ma 


•-, 


MOHAMMED. 


—"The  Koran." 


THE    GENUINE    KORAN. 

THE  Arabian  Bible,  to  which  this  Life  is  prefixed,  ia 
the  genuine  Koran,  commonly  called  the  Alcoran  of  Mo- 
bammed,  and  which  was  translated  into  English  immedi- 
ately from  the  original  Arabic;  and  inscribed  to  the  Right 
Honorable  Lord  John  Carteret,  one  of  the  Lords  of  His 
Britannic  Majesty's  most  Honorable  Privy  Council,  in  1734, 
by  George  Sale,  a  gentleman  of  extraordinary  learning, 
and  a  perfect  master  of  the  languages,  customs,  habits, 
manners,  laws,  and  traditions  of  the  Eastern  Nations. 

It  is  the  only  true  and  legitimate  version  of  the  Mo- 
hammedan Bible ;  and  could  not,  perhaps,  be  published  in 
a  popular  form,  more  opportunely  than  at  the  present 
time,  when  the  great  Mohammedan  Governments  are  all 
tottering  to  their  very  foundations ;  and  their  subjects  are 
beginning,  in  the  fulfilment  of  the  prophecies  of  the  Holy 
Scriptures,  to  yield  up  their  faith  in  Islamism  and  become 
converts  to  the  Christian  Religion. 


BEAUTIFUL  LANGUAGE  OF  THE  KORAN. 

THE  Koran  is  universally  allowed  to  be  written  with 
the  utmost  elegance  and  purity  of  language.  It  is  confes- 
sedly the  standard  of  the  Arabian  tongue.  The  Moslems 
or  more  orthodox  believe,  and  are  taught  by  the  book 
itself,  that  it  is  inimitable  by  human  pen ;  and,  therefore, 
insisted  upon  as  a  permanent  miracle,  greater  than  the 
raising  of  the  dead  to  life,  and  alone  sufficient  to  convinc* 
the  world  of  its  heavenly  origin. 

2234757 


THE    LIFE 

OF 


MOHAMMED. 


WE  are  informed  by  historians,  that  many  famous  cities,  distin- 
guished above  others  for  literature  and  commerce,  contended  which 
of  them  should  have  the  honor  of  being  the  birthplace  of  Homer. 
He  was  the  prince  and  father  of  poets,  and  has  acquired  the  just 
admiration  and  astonishment  of  the  world.  Such  a  contest  was, 
therefore,  commendable,  as  it  evinced  the  high  opinion  which  men 
at  that  period  had  of  unexampled  merit.  But  when  the  charac- 
ter of  Mohammed  is  attentively  surveyed,  whether  delineated  by 
friends  or  enemies,  the  picture  is  so  shocking,  that  it  is  a  wonder 
the  place  of  his  nativity  has  not  been  buried  in  oblivion.  Anj 
country  might  blush  to  have  produced  such  a  monster.  So  great, 
however,  has  the  veneration  of  the  Arabians  for  this  arch  deceiver 
always  been,  that  they  have  not  left  it  problematical  where  he  first 
drew  his  breath.  Everything  concerning  him  was  deemed  of  tor 
much  importance  not  to  be  made  public,  when  even  his  remark 
in  the  course  of  conversation,  were  considered  as  oracles.  He- 
was  born  at  Mecca,  a  city  of  Arabia,  famous  for  nothing  so  much 
as  for  the  pilgrimages  made  to  it,  both  before  and  after  the  estab- 
lishment of  his  religion,  if  it  be  not  a  prostitution  of  the  word  to 
give  it  such  a  name.  He  was  descended  from  a  tribe  called  the 
Korashites,  said  to  be  the  most  considerable  in  point  of  influence 
and  wealth,  the  two  great  idols  of  human  ambition.  The  origin 
of  this  tribe  was  one  Pher  Koraish,  who  had  no  doubt  acquired  his 
importance  by  rapine  and  plunder,  which  appears  to  have  been 
the  chief  trade  of  that  unhappy  country.  This  being  the  true 
descent  of  Mohammed  according  to  the  testimony  of  the  most 
reputed  authors,  he  was  not  a  man  of  that  obscure,  mean,  and  des- 
picable origin  which  many  have  asserted.  Those  who  read  little 
and  think  less,  are  ever  apt  to  be  led  away  by  those  accounts  of  a 
person  they  dislike,  which  they  imagine  will  degrade  him  in  the 
estimation  of  the  world.  This  has  often  been  the  unjustifiable 


6  LIFE  OF  MOHAMMED. 

conduct  of  too  many  Christians,  forgetting  that  it  would  not  ha»e 
diminished  the  sterling  worth  of  Mohammed,  had  he  been  possessed 
of  any,  though  he  had  been  brought  forth  by  a  beggar,  at  the  root 
of  a  hedge ;  nor  will  it  ever  detract  from  that  just  infamy  which 
he  has  brought  upon  himself  in  the  eye  of  true  discernment,  that 
he  was  the  hated  spawn  of  opulence  and  power.  The  nature  and 
circumstances  of  a  man's  birth  being  wholly  independent  of  him- 
self, make  no  part  of  the  value  or  insignificance  of  his  character 
But  as  to  Mohammed,  it  is  not  true  that  his  parentage  was  mean 
and  obscure.  It  is  indeed  a  popular  blunder,  which  passes  with  the 
ignorant  as  a  matter  of  fact,  and  which  Paine  has  adopted  in  his 
"  Age  of  Reason,"  owing  to  the  circumscribed  nature  of  his  educa- 
tion. "  Moses."  says  he,  "  was  a  foundling,  Jesus  Christ  was  born 
in  a  stable,  and  Mohammed  was  a  mule-driver."  The  design  of 
this  sentence  is  too  obvious  to  require  a  comment ;  for  at  any  time 
he  would  barter  his  reputation  ;  —  we  had  almost  said,  his  soul,  for 
a  stroke  at  Christianity.  But  to  proceed  with  our  narrative : 

Mohammed's  father  died  when  he  was  only  two  years  of  age, 
which  involved  his  mother  Amena  and  himself  in  poverty  and  dis- 
tress. All  the  wealth  of  which  his  father  was  possessed  devolved 
to  his  uncles ;  the  principal  share  of  which  became  the  property 
of  Abu  Taleb,  that  uncle  who  supported  him  so  powerfully  in  the 
propagating  of  his  imposture,  and  preserved  him  on  many  occa- 
sions from  being  cut  off  by  his  enemies.  Six  years  after  the  death 
of  his  father,  his  mother  died  also,  and  thus  he  became  an  almost 
destitute  orphan  at  an  early  period  of  life.  His  grandfather,  in- 
deed, whose  name  was  Abd'  almotalleb,  took  him  home  to  his 
house ;  but  to  enjoy  the  benefit  of  his  generosity  only  a  short  time, 
for  Abd'  almotalleb  died  the  following  year.  Then  Abu  Taleb, 
his  uncle,  took  him  under  his  protection,  and  in  the  language  of 
Oriental  historians,  maintained  him  out  of  charity.  With  Abu 
Taleb  he  lived  sixteen  years,  being  trained  up  by  him  to  the  em- 
ployment of  a  merchant,  the  chief  source  of  wealth  among  the 
great  men  of  that  country.  They  traded  to  Syria,  Persia,  and 
Egypt,  carrying  thither  such  articles  of  commerce  as  they  received 
from  India,  Ethiopia,  and  other  southern  regions  of  the  globe. 
Mohammed  served  his  uncle  with  fidelity  and  advantage,  and  he 
left  him  of  his  own  accord. 

At  this  period,  being  now  twenty-five  years  of  age,  a  circum- 
stance happened  in  Mecca,  peculiarly  favorable  to  the  advance- 
dent  of  his  projected  scheme.  A  merchant  of  considerable  wealth 
and  influence  dying  in  the  city,  his  widow,  to  whom  he  left  the 
whole  of  his  possessions  and  stock  in  trade,  resolved  to  carry  ou 
the  traffic  of  her  husband,  by  which  he  had  acquired  his  eminence. 
But  being  destitute  of  a  person  properly  qualified  for  an  agent  or 
factor  to  foreign  countries,  she  applied  to  Mohammed.  W hethei 
BU«.  knew  him  to  be  fit  for  this  office,  or  depended  on  the  attesta- 
tions of  such  as  were  well  acquainted  with  him,  is  not  certain,  but 


LIFE  OF  MOHAMMED.  7 

the  made  him  such  eligible  and  inviting  offers,  as  he  did  not  deem 
it  prudent  to  reject.  Being  taken  into  her  service  in  the  above 
capacity,  he  discharged  the  duties  of  his  office  to  her  entire  satis- 
faction for  the  space  of  three  years,  travelling  with  her  goods  into 
Syria,  Persia,  and  Egypt,  and  bringing  back  such  advantageous 
returns  as  did  not  fail  to  please.  In  the  course  of  his  mercantile 
travels,  he  became  acquainted  both  with  Jews  and  Christians, 
whose  religious  opinions  he  would  examine  with  as  much  attention 
as  privacy  would  allow,  or  opportunity  afford.  He  found  both 
parties,  wherever  he  went,  miserably  divided  among  themselves, 
which  he  no  doubt  considered  as  a  favorable  symptom,  and  a  pow- 
erful encouragement  to  expect  their  speedy^  acceptance  of  the 
imposture  which  he  was  soon  to  make  public.  When  religious 
controversy  rises  to  such  a  height  as  to  extinguish  every  spark  of 
love,  confidence,  and  respect,  and  kindle  a  spirit  of  jealousy  and 
persecution,  men  are  almost  prepared  for  the  reception  of  any- 
tl  ing,  however  absurd,  if  it  promises  a  removal  of  their  present 
MI i ties.  The  want  of  unanimity  has  been  the  destruction  of 
.•"-  •nmunities,  civil  and  religious,  in  every  age  of  the  world. 
I  med  understood  this ;  and  it  will  appear,  from  the  subse- 
q  history  of  his  life,  that  he  made  his  own  use  of  it.  His 
countrymen  also  were  devoted  to  the  belief  of  those  tenets  which 
were  known  by  the  name  of  Zendicism,  having  a  strong  resem- 
blance to  the  opinions  of  the  Sadducees  among  the  Jews,  for  they 
denied  a  providence,  the  immortality  of  the  soul,  and  the  resur- 
rection from  the  dead.  This  being  almost  equivalent  to  atheism, 
or  no  religion  whatever,  they  were  in  a  state  very  favorable  to  his 
designs,  and  the  more  easily  wrought  upon  by  his  artifice  and  cun- 
ning. Like  a  piece  of  clean  paper,  they  were  ready  to  receive 
the  first  impressions  that  offered,  and  those  made  by  Mohammed 
had  the  desired  effect ;  for  nothing  almost  was  proof  against  his 
insinuations  and  address. 

He  was  now  twenty-eight  years  of  age,  enjoying  the  advan- 
tages of  a  good  exterior  figure,  as  all  historians  allow,  which  being 
rnited  to  that  winning  mode  of  address  he  so  eminently  inherited 
from  nature,  and  which  he  could,  no  doubt,  successfully  employ  in 
the  management  of  love  affairs,  as  well  as  of  delusion  ;  he  gained 
an  entire  victory  over  the  widow's  heart.  Khadijah,  for  that  was 
her  name,  could  no  longer  resist  the  artillery  of  Mohammed's 
accomplishments,  but  gave  him  her  heart  and  her  hand,  in  the  for- 
tieth year  of  her  age.  Had  not  the  Impostor's  ambitious  views 
been  to  him  instead  of  everything  else,  it  is  not  probable  that  he 
would  have  married  a  woman  twelve  years  older  than  himself;  but 
her  extensive  fortune  opened  to  him  the  delightful  prospect  of 
reaching  the  completion  of  his  fondest  wishes.  We  draw  this 
inference  from  the  practice  afterwards  adopted  by  him,  always 
selecting  such  women  as  were  younger  than  himself.  He  wa* 
espoused  to  bis  beloved  Ayesha,  when  she  was  only  six  years  of 


6  LIFE  OF  MOHAMMED. 

age,  and  the  marriage  was  consummated  when  she  was  no  more 
than  eight.  As  females  in  most  parts  of  the  globe  within  the  tor- 
rid zone  arrive  at  womanhood  at  the  age  o*"  nine  or  ten,  a  woman 
of  forty  in  Arabia  must  be  as  constitutionally  old  as  one  of  sixtj 
in  Britain.  Nor  is  it  likely  that  Khadijah  would  have  married 
her  servant  had  not  he  been  possessed  of  a  something  which  is  always 
captivating  in  the  eyes  of  those  females  who  pay  little  respect  to 
the  more  sublime  accomplishments  of  the  mind,  and  more  esj.e- 
uially  if  he  had  not  been  much  younger  than  herself. 

Mohammed's  ambitious  views  being  thus  highly  gratified,  and 
his  extensive  influence,  arising  from  the  fortune  which  this  union 
brought  him,  conspiring  to  favor  his  design,  he  began  seriously  to 
think  of  the  most  proper  method  of  divulging  his  imposture.  It 
cannot  be  determined  whether  he  considered  himself  as  injured 
by  the  revolution  which  took  place  in  his  affairs  upon  the  death 
of  his  father ;  but  certain  it  ra,  that  he  made  every  action  of  his 
life  subservient  to  the  obtaining  the  sovereign  authority  over  the 
city  of  Mecca,  which  his  ancestors  had  so  long  enjoyed.  But  as 
he  rightly  judged  that  his  well-known  profligacy  and  wickedness 
would  form  insurmountable  barriers  in  the  way  of  his  success,  he 
resolved  to  lead  a  life  of  seeming  sanctity  and  actual  retirement 
for  the  space  of  two  years.  He  could  not  be  ignorant  that  the 
venerable  and  interesting  title  of  Apostle  of  God,  or  messenger 
from  heaven,  was  totally  incompatible  with  a  licentious  course. 
Voluptuous  and  depraved  as  his  countrymen  were,  the  shrewdness 
and  sagacity  which  they  possessed  in  a  considerable  degree  could 
not  fan  to  dictate  to  them  the  incongruity  between  his  wonted 
mode  of  living  and  a  claim  to  inspiration.  About  the  age  of 
thirty-eight,  he  took  up  his  almost  daily  residence  in  a  solitary 
cave,  nigh  to  the  city  of  Mecca,  where  he  pretended  to  be  favored 
with  visions  from  the  Almighty.  When  he  returned  home  at 
night,  he  endeavored  to  persuade  his  wife  of  the  truth  of  those 
wonderful  relations,  but  it  seems  her  incredulity  was  at  first  too 
great  to  be  shaken  by  such  assertions.  She  could  not  consider 
them  in  any  other  light  than  as  the  result  of  a  disposition  to  play 
the  wag;  but  when  he  persisted  with  the  utmost  solemnity  to 
vouch  for  their  truth,  she  concluded  him  to  be  deranged.  He 
next  told  her,  that  in  the  forementioned  cave,  sacred  to  the  com- 
munication of  important  discoveries  from  on  high,  he  had  repeated 
conferences  with  the  angel  Gabriel,  employed  by  Jehovah  to  bring 
him  down  the  Koran,  which  was  to  contain  the  religious  system 
of  doctrines  and  precepts  that  heaven  designed  for  his  country- 
men. But  here  again  he  met  with  his  wonted  opposition,  for  hia 
unbelieving  spouse  was  determined  to  give  credit,  neither  to  the 
one  nor  the  other.  She  treated  both  as  the  production  of  a  dis- 
tempered brain,  not  apprehending  the  abominable  purpose  for 
which  they  were  fabricated. 

At  this  time  there  was  a  monk  residing  in  his  house,  who  being 


LIFE  OF   MOHAMMED.  9 

privy  to  the  Impostor's  design,  and  greatly  assisting  him  in  bring- 
ing it  to  maturity,  came  opportunely  in  with  his  asseverations,  jus- 
tiffed  Mohammed  in  all  he  advanced,  and  finally  made  a  convert 
of  the  once  incredulous  Khadijah.  What  will  not  patience  and 
perseverance  accomplish  ?  They  ought  to  be  his  companions,  who 
is  concerned  in  any  laudable  undertaking  which  is  the  work  of 
time,  but  in  the  support  of  a  bad,  they  are  eminently  useful 
They  who  embark  in  the  defence  of  error  and  delusion  require  a 
command  of  temper,  and  an  astonishing  presence  of  mind,  as  they 
must  expect  to  meet  with  much  irony  and  ridicule,  and  have  to 
grapple  with  a  multitude  of  objections  for  which  they  cannot 
always  be  prepared.  This  was  the  case  with  Mohammed,  in  prop- 
agating his  imposture,  who,  from  his  first  attempt  to  convince  his 
wife  of  the  divinity  of  his  mission,  to  the  time  at  which  he  took  up 
the  sword  in  its  defence,  a  period  of  no  less  than  thirteen  years, 
was  continually  exposed  to  scoffing  and  ridicule,  to  laughter  and 
contempt.  Yet  he  never  once  appeared  to  be  angry,  bearing  all 
the  indignities  that  were  offered  him,  without  seeming  to  repine. 
As  ungovernable  sallies  of  passion  in  support  of  truth  never  fail 
to  injure  its  reception  in  the  world,  so  it  is  no  less  certain,  that 
even  error  itself  loses  its  native  deformity  by  degrees,  when  sup- 
ported with  mildness,  composure,  and  diffidence.  We  are  not 
warranted  in  saying,  from  any  historical  information  to  which  we 
have  had  access,  that  he  inherited  from  nature  this  government 
of  himself.  From  the  most  minute  attention  to  his  life,  considered 
as  a  connected  whole,  we  are  led  to  believe  that  he  was  either  of 
a  morose  and  sullen,  or  of  a  hasty,  passionate  temper ;  for  the 
propagation  of  his  religion  by  the  sword  has  nearly  as  much  the 
air  of  rancor  and  revenge,  as  a  determined  resolution  to  push  the 
advantages  he  had  obtained.  But  before  he  sounded  the  mindl 
of  his  countrymen,  on  which  depended  the  probability  of  his  suc- 
cess, his  cunning  and  ready  wit  no  doubt  pointed  out  the  necessity 
of  disguising  his  temper. 

Men  of  an  ominous  disposition,  who  are  fond  of  allusion  and 
allegory,  think  they  discover  some  portentous  event  in  every  acci- 
dental circumstance.  To  people  of  this  turn  of  mind  it  will  be  a 
rich  treat  to  understand,  that  Mohammed  withdrew  to  the  cave 
near  Mecca,  the  very  year  in  which  the  tyrant  Phocas  granted 
liberty  to  the  Bishop  of  Rome,  to  assume  the  title  of  universal 
pastor.  At  the  time  when  Antichrist  was  climbing  to  the  summit 
of  his  impious  dignity  in  the  northern,  a  monster  was  forging  the 
chains  of  delusion  for  the  southern  hemisphere.  Whether  such 
things  are  brought  about  by  the  immediate  interference  of  God, 
or  happen  according  to  the  established  laws  of  nature,  it  is  not  our 
design  at  present  fully  to  investigate.  The  Supreme  Being,  we 
should  humbly  apprehend,  is  as  much  concerned  in  them,  as  in 
other  works  of  his  hands,  when  by  the  wonderful  law  of  vegetation, 
oe  makes  a  tree  to  germinate,  blossom,  and  bear  fruit.  If  Moham 


10  LIFE  OF  MOHAMMED. 

med  went  to  the  nave  in  the  very  year  in  which  the  grant  of  Pho 
cas  was  obtained,  we  do  not  see  that  it  proves  anything  more  than 
•uch  an  assertion  as  this :  —  that  some  person  or  other  was  born 
in  the  very  year,  the  very  month,  and  perhaps  on  the  very  day  on 
which  the  author  of  these  pages  was  born.  Unfortunately,  how 
ever,  for  those  who  wish  to  make  more  of  this  story  than  a  natu- 
ral occurrence,  the  dates  affixed  to  the  two  events  will  not  bring 
them  together.  Mohammed  was  born  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  five 
hundred  and  seventy-one ;  the  grant  of  Phocas  is  dated  six  hun- 
dred and  six,  and  the  Impostor  took  up  his  residence  in  the  cave 
at  the  age  of  thirty-eight.  Now,  38-f-5 71=609,  which  carries  the 
one  thres  years  beyond  the  other.  If  he  was  born  in  the  begin- 
ning of  571,  the  odd  year  will  make  one  year  of  his  age;  and 
then  it  will  be  571+37,  or  570+38=608,  two  years  al'tei  the 
grant  of  Phocas.  Finally,  as  the  Arabs  computed  by  lunar  years, 
Slohammed  was  only  36  years  old,  and  something  more  than  ten 
ivmths  at  the  time  of  his  retirement;  that  is,  almost  37.  If  then 
you  add  this  to  570  or  571,  it  will  give  607  or  608  nearly,  none  of 
which  periods  will  agree  with  the  other.  If  these  two  events  must 
be  made  to  coincide  exactly  in  point  of  time,  one  of  three  conclu- 
sions must  be  admitted ;  either  that  Mohammed  was  not  born  in 
571,  or  that  the  grant  of  Phocas  was  not  obtained  in  606,  or  that 
ihe  Impostor  did  not  retire  to  the  cave  at  the  age  of  thirty-eight. 
But  as  all  the  above  dates  have  the  concurring  testimony  of  the 
most  reputed  authors  extant,  it  is  the  fairest  and  most  rational 
conclusion,  that  the  two  events  did  not  happen  at  the  same  time. 

Mohammed,  at  the  age  of  forty,  after  completing  the  period  of 
his  probation  in  the  cell,  assumed  the  title  of  Apostle  of  God,  with 
none  but  Khadijah  -as  the  fruit  of  his  exertions,  only  venturing, 
however,  to  practise  on  the  credulity  of  his  domestics  and  very 
near  relations,  since  their  influence,  if  it  could  be  obtained,  would 
give  him  additional  encouragement  to  try  his  success  with  the  pub- 
uc.  For  the  space  of  four  years,  the  converts  to  his  new  religion 
were  only  nine  in  number.  This  gloomy  prospect  required  a 
degree  of  patience  too  big  for  the  shock  of  disappointment.  And 
here  we  beseech  all  zealous,  hot-headed  Christians  to  remember, 
that  his  having  obtained  so  few  proselytes  for  such  a  length  of 
time,  can  be  no  proof,  abstractly  considered,  of  the  badness  of  his 
cause ;  for  even  truth  itself  when  it  is  entirely  new,  will  be  re- 
ceived at  first  with  shyness  and  suspicion.  We  speak  thus,  be- 
cause we  never  wish  to  refute  error  but  by  solid  arguments,  unde- 
niably rational,  and  not  by  the  spawn  of  fancy,  whim,  or  ill-nature. 
We  shall  presently  find  him  abundantly  wicked,  without  the  piti- 
ful subterfuge  of  shift  or  evasion. 

Recollecting  the  recluse  and  austere  life  he  had  led  in  the  cave, 
and  expecting  to  feel  the  good  effects  of  it,  from  the  reputation  for 
lanctity  which  it  had  probably  acquired  him,  he  opened  his  im- 
posture to  the  people,  at  the  age  of  forty-four.  The  leading  ideas 


LIFE  OF  MOHAMMED.  11 

of  all  his  discourses  were,  that  God  is  one ;  that  ho  him- 
lelf  was  the  prophet  of  God,  sent  to  declare  his  will  to  men; 
and  that  they  who  affirm  the  Almighty  to  have  sons  or 
daughters,  are  chargeable  with  impiety,  and  ought  to  be  de- 
tested. It  was  unquestionably  his  design  to  inveigh  against 
the  doctrine  of  the  Trinity  by  one  part  of  this  assertion,  ana 
to  condemn  the  idolatry  of  his  countrymen  by  the  other.  They 
were  strongly  addicted  to  the  worship  of  three  female  deities, 
known  by  the  names  of  Allat,  Menat,  and  Al  Uzza,  whom  they 
impiously  denominated  the  daughters  of  God.  As  was  to  be 
expected,  the  ridicule  and  opposition  he  met  with  from  hit 
hearers  put  his  counterfeit  patience  to  many  severe  trials.  People 
iid  not  hesitate  to  pronounce  him  a  sorcerer.  They  openly  called 
turn  a  liar,  and  viewed  everything  he  uttered  as  impertinent  and 
fabulous.  It  is  almost  impossible  to  conceive  how  mortifying  it 
nust  have  been  to  his  native  pride  and  ambition,  to  be  treated 
with  less  ceremony  than  a  ballad-singer.  As  the  fictitious  mild- 
ness of  his  temper  prevented  him  from  betraying  the  wickedness 
of  his  intentions,  or  giving  ground  to  suspect  him  as  the  author  of 
a  forgery,  by  flying  out  into  gusts  of  passion  ;  so  his  ready  wit,  of 
which  he  must  be  acknowledged  to  have  had  a  very  large  share, 
seldom  deserted  him  altogether  on  any  critical  emergency.  Yet, 
amidst  the  innumerable  objections  he  had  to  encounter  on  all 
hands,  many  of  which  he  could  not  always  be  in  readiness  to  ob- 
viate, he  was  sometimes  left  in  absolute  silence,  to  the  no  small 
diversion  of  those  who  opposed  him.  The  cause  he  had  espoused 
being  so  desperately  wicked,  and  so  utterly  incapable  of  being 
supported  by  argument,  we  cannot  wonder  if  he  was  sometimes  at 
a  loss  for  a  fetch  of  cunning,  to  ward  off  the  rational  objections 
that  fell  so  thick  upon  him  from  every  quarter,  on  his  first  appear- 
ance in  public.  When  a  man  undertakes  the  talk  of  a  Moham- 
med, it  would  require  the  artifice  of  the  devil  himself  to  bear  him 
always  through.  Yet  astonishing  to  relate,  he  did  go  through  with 
it,  and  for  the  space  of  thirteen  years,  employed  nothing  like  com- 
pulsion. His  wonderful  patience  under  persecution,  and  his  for- 
bearing to  revenge  any  insult,  though  he  could  certainly  have 
wished  to  do  it,  had  a  very  considerable  share  in  blunting  the  edge 
of  opposition.  Add  to  this,  that  he  had  a  peculiar  talent  of  flat- 
tery, which  he  levelled  against  the  weak  side  of  the  great  and 
opulent  with  such  a  masterly  hand,  that  he  procured  their  protec- 
tion, and  made  many  of  them  converts.  It  is  so  extremely  natural 
for  mankind  to  love  commendation,  that  few  are  always  proof 
against  its  most  formidable  attacks.  If  any  are  so,  it  must  be  the 
man  who  has  not  only  an  extensive  education,  but  a  penetrating 
judgment,  and  an  enlarged  understanding.  To  such  a  man  flat- 
tery always  appears  either  as  the  disguise  of  wickedness,  or  a 
design  to  ridicule.  The  nartition  between  flattery  and  honest 


12  LIFE  OF  MOHAMMED. 

praise  is  so  very  thin,  that  a  wise  man  will  reject  all  commenda 
tion  bestowed  upon  him  to  his  face,  that  he  may  not  run  the  hazard 
of  being  imposed  on,  nor  carried  out  of  himself  by  the  sugges- 
tions of  vanity.  But  those  with  whom  Mohammed  was  concerned, 
were  not  proof  against  flattery  under  his  artful  management.  He 
gained  the  ascendancy  over  many  of  the  first  rank  in  life,  which 
ne  no  doubt  considered  as  a  favorable  prelude  to  the  surrender  of 
the  poor  Although  he  labored  four  years  for  four  converts  to  hia 
cause,  yet  the  next  year  of  his  pretended  mission  added  thirty  to 
their  number.  The  influence  of  example  is  always  very  power- 
ful, but  that  of  the  opulent  over  their  dependents  and  inferiors 
can  seldom  be  resisted.  His  affluent  circumstances  put  it  also  In 
his  power  to  bribe  the  needy,  which  he  brought  in  to  assist  th« 
example  of  the  great ;  and  the  united  force  of  these  two  accom 
plished  his  design. 

It  has  often  been  said  that  poverty  is  a  foe  to  honesty,  and  per- 
haps it  is  capable  of  doing  as  much  mischief  to  a  man's  religious 
creed.  The  offer  of  plenty  to  him  who  is  plunged  into  the  ex- 
tremity of  want,  is  a  strong  temptation  to  make  a  sacrifice  of  con- 
science. This  effect  it  produced  in  the  deserts  of  Arabia,  where 
men  of  little  religion  had  the  less  sacrifice  to  make.  A  craving 
stomach  spoke  louder  than  reason,  and  the  loaves  and  fishes 
wrought  wonders  in  his  favor.  In  addition  to  all  the  arts  we  have 
ak-eady  mentioned,  he  incessantly  applied  to  those  passions  of  the 
human  mind  in  his  promises  and  threatenings,  which  were  chiefly 
consulted  in  the  regulation  of  their  conduct.  Their  hopes  and 
fears  felt  his  heaviest  artillery,  as  the  heaven  and  hell  of  his  own 
manufacturing  will  abundantly  evince.  In  his  paradise,  he  said 
there  were  many  rivers  and  curious  fountains,  continually  sending 
forth  pleasing  streams.  Near  these,  he  told  his  followers,  they 
should  repose  themselves  on  most  delicate  and  sumptuous  beds, 
adorned  with  gold  and  precious  stones,  under  the  shadow  of  the 
trees  of  paradise,  yielding  them  all  manner  of  pleasant  fruits  ;  and 
that  there  they  should  enjoy  most  beautiful  women,  who  would  not 
cast  an  eye  on  any  but  themselves.  He  Kkewise  assured  them  of 
receiving  most  delicious  liquors  and  pleasant  wines,  without  having 
their  enjoyment  interrupted  by  intervals  of  intoxication.  This 
fulsome  stuff  was  a  tidbit  for  the  stomach  of  an  Arabian,  consti- 
tutionally addicted  to  the  love  of  pleasure,  and  entirely  suited  to 
\,he  palate  of  its  voluptuous  author.  It  is  not  difficult  to  make 
men  believe  what  they  wish  to  be  true,  and  of  consequence  m 
picture  of  human  happiness  to  be  enjoyed  in  futurity  could  have 
been  drawn,  so  completely  capable  of  subduing  their  opposition, 
inflaming  their  desires,  and  of  triumphing  over  the  dictates  of  rea- 
son and  conscience.  In  the  barren,  parched  sands  of  Arabia, 
what  could  be  so  much  an  object  of  desire  as  a  cooling  shade  from 
die  almost  vertical  rays  of  the  meridian  sun,  or  copious  draught* 


LIFE  OF  MOHAMMED.  13 

of  refreshing,  cooling  liquors,  to  men  burning  with  thirst  ?  Such 
images  increased  the  native  impetuosity  of  their  passions,  and  hur- 
ried them  into  the  vortex  of  his  impious  delusion. 

But  if  his  description  of  heaven  was  peculiarly  enchanting  '.o 
those  whom  he  aimed  to  deceive,  his  hell  was  no  less  terrible  to 
the  same  description  of  men.  He  affirmed  that  such  as  would  not 
receive  his  divine  message,  should  drink  boiling  and  stinking  water, 
breathe  nothing  but  hot  winds,  dwell  forever  in  continual  fire,  and 
be  surrounded  with  a  black,  salt  smoke ;  eat  briers  and  thorns, 
and  the  fruit  of  the  tree  zacon,  which  would  be  in  their  bellies 
like  burning  pitch.  It  is  astonishing  with  what  artifice  and  cun- 
ning these  portraits  are  delineated.  How  terrible  must  it  have 
been  to  a  native  of  the  torrid  zone,  visited  with  the  intolerable 
heat  of  the  sun,  reflected  from  the  burning  sands,  as  from  the 
mouth  of  an  oven,  and  whose  very  zephyrs  were  fire,  to  think  that 
such  would  be  his  state  through  everlasting  ages,  if  he  should  con- 
tinue to  reject  the  inspiration  of  the  Koran !  By  the  perpetual 
sounding  of  such  rewards  and  punishments  in  the  ears  of  his 
countrymen,  Mohammed  terrified  some  and  allured  others  into  the 
belief  of  his  mission.  But  he  had  still  another  engine  for  batter- 
ing down  opposition,  and  that  was,  his  threatening  the  most  dread- 
ful judgments  here  upon  earth,  in  case  of  non-compliance  with  his 
favorite  scheme.  He  gave  them  to  understand,  that  the  old  world 
was  destroyed  by  a  deluge,  for  their  disobedience  to  Noah ;  that 
Sodom  was  consumed  by  fire  and  brimstone  from  heaven,  for  it? 
treatment  of  Lot,  and  the  Egyptians  drowned  in  the  Red  Sea,  for 
rejecting  the  mission  of  Moses.  To  those  and  such  like  instances 
of  the  divine  displeasure  against  the  workers  of  iniquity,  he  added 
a  fiction  of  his  own,  about  the  destruction  of  Ad  and  Thamod, 
totally  destroyed  for  similar  reasons.  Now,  if  land  be  an  object 
of  desire  to  the  shipwrecked  mariner,  drink  to  the  parched  tongue, 
or  ease  to  such  aa  are  tormented  with  the  gout,  all  the  promises 
and  threatenings  of  Mohammed  must  have  been  equally  the  ob- 
jects of  desire  and  aversion.  And  here  it  is  obvious  to  remark, 
that  there  was  no  sort  of  analogy  between  the  above  judgments, 
which  reason  would  soon  have  pointed  out  to  the  Arabs,  had  not 
their  hopes  and  fears  been  their  principles  of  action.  It  was  a 
sophistical  inference,  that  because  the  Egyptians  and  Sodomites 
were  made  the  visible  monuments  of  the  wrath  of  insulted  Heaven, 
therefore  all  those  who  rejected  his  claim  to  a  divine  commission 
would  also  be  punished ;  for  they  were  rendered  inexcusable  by 
their  open  contempt  of  the  warnings  of  Jehovah,  or  the  miracles 
which  were  performed  to  subdue  their  unbelief;  whereas  the  Ara- 
bians rejected  the  lunatic  pretences  of  a  man  who  could  only  aa- 
•ert,  without  a  single  evidence  of  the  truth  of  his  assertion. 

In  the  above  manner  he  continued  to  propagate  his  imposture, 
which  acquired  additional  strength  so  fast,  that  many,  whom  no 
promises  could  as  yet  allure,  nor  threatenings  intimidate,  began  tc 


14  LIFE  OF  MOHAMMED. 

be  alarmed.  Such  as  were  supremely  ignorant,  and  excessive!) 
addicted  to  idolatrous  worship,  could  not  hear  his  invectives  against 
such  a  practice  without  fear  or  indignation.  To  have  pulled  th« 
meat  from  their  mouths  under  the  most  pungent  stings  of  hunger, 
would  not  have  been  considered  as  greater  injustice  and  barbarity, 
than  the  exclaiming  against  their  deities.  But  men  of  penetra- 
tion and  discernment  were  alarmed  for  another  reason.  Thej 
saw  a  system  of  tyranny  and  oppression  making  rapid  strides  tow 
ards  maturity,  which,  if  not  finally  suppressed  in  a  state  of  in- 
fancy, might  soon  divest  them  of  all  their  possessions.  This  made 
them  resolve  to  cut  off  the  object  of  their  terror  and  disgust,  let 
the  consequences  be  what  they  would,  as  they  rightly  judged,  that 
of  two  evils  the  least  should  be  chosen.  Humanity  itself  can 
scarcely  help  lamenting  that  they  did  not  succeed ;  but  by  the 
timely  interference  and  vigorous  exertions  of  Abu  Taleb,  his  uncle, 
he  was  delivered  from  premeditated  massacre,  to  be  a  scourge  to 
the  world.  It  does  not  appear  that  this  man  ever  espoused  the 
religion  of  his  nephew,  but  such  was  his  affection  for  him,  far  ex- 
ceeding what  is  commonly  found  in  that  degree  of  consanguinity, 
that  all  his  power  and  influence  became  devoted  to  his  service 
when  in  danger  from  his  enemies. 

Mohammed  being  constantly  urged  to  work  miracles  in  confir- 
mation of  his  pretended  mission,  by  all  those  who  continued  proof 
against  his  arts  of  seduction,  he  was  galled  to  the  very  soul,  and 
greatly  at  a  loss  what  answer  to  return.  But  being  now  so  accus- 
tomed to  the  sneers  of  waggery,  or  the  terrible  blows  of  reason 
and  argument,  he  received  them  as  things  of  course,  and  his  pres- 
ence of  mind  cooperating  with  his  ready  wit,  seldom  left  him  for 
any  length  of  time  in  total  stupefaction.  He  therefore  told  them, 
without  seeming  to  be  much  disconcerted,  that  the  working  of 
miracles  formed  no  part  of  his  apostleship,  being  entirely  limited 
by  God  to  preach  the  rewards  of  paradise,  and  the  punishments  of 
hell ;  the  dignity  of  his  own  character,  and  the  submission  which 
all  men  were  required  to  pay  to  him  as  the  prophet  of  God.  Soon, 
however,  did  he  perceive  the  impotency  of  this  argument.  They 
considered  it  as  reasoning  in  a  circle,  to  prove  his  mission  by  itself. 
If  you  are  divinely  inspired,  let  us  see  your  credentials,  for  God 
will  send  no  man  upon  such  an  errand  as  you  assert  you  are  come 
on,  without  such  undeniable  tokens  of  the  veracity  of  the  messen- 
ger, as  all  men  must  believe,  if  not  resolutely  blind.  Finding  the 
people  more  than  a  match  for  him  in  canvassing  the  merits  of  this 
excuse,  he  had  recourse  to  another  which  he  deemed  more  con- 
clusive. He  said  that  their  predecessors  had  treated  the  miracles 
of  Saleh  and  other  prophets  of  their  own  country  with  such  ridi- 
cule and  contempt,  that  God  was  determined  they  should  never 
have  an  opportunity  of  behaving  so  again.  If  we  suppose  that 
this  nonsensical  story  was  an  object  of  general  belief  among  the 
Arabs,  as  we  think  it  was,  it  behooved  to  have  greater  weight  wHb 


LIFE  OP  MOHAMMED.  15 

hif  hearers,  than  bis  former  apology.  If  it  was  a  legend  of  hit 
own  fabrication,  he  would  take  care  to  lay  the  supposed  scene  of 
those  miracles  at  such  a  distance  from  Mecca,  as  to  put  it  out  ol 
the  power  of  the  objectors  to  contradict  him  to  his  face.  But  be 
ing  afraid  that  even  this  might  fail  to  produce  the  intended  effect, 
he  said  that  all  those  whom  God  had  from  eternity  ordained  to 
believe,  would  do  so,  without  the  aid  of  miracles,  while  those  whom 
he  determined  should  not  believe,  could  not  be  converted  by  tec 
thousand  miracles.  This  was  the  justly  exploded  doctrine  of  fate 
and  destiny,  which  many  of  the  ancients  considered  as  above  the 
Almighty ;  —  as  a  blasphemous  inexpressible  something  to  which 
God  himself  was  subject.  Yet  even  this,  which  is  no  more  like 
the  Scripture  doctrine  of  predestination  than  the  east  is  like  the 
west,  or  the  light  of  a  glow-worm  like  that  of  the  sun,  would  not 
answer  his  purpose.  He  therefore  observed  that  Moses  and  Joshua 
were  frequemtly  disobeyed,  and  rejected  by  wickedness  and  unb<-  l>, 
which  made  God  send  him  last  of  all  to  compel  them  by  the  sword. 

It  may  here  be  remarked,  that  although  Mohammed  disclaims, 
in  his  Koran,  the  power  of  working  miracles,  for  the  reasons  al- 
ready mentioned,  yet  some  of  his  admirers  have  ascribed  many  to 
him  which  are  miracles  with  a  vengeance.  It  seems  he  was  capa- 
ble of  cleaving  the  moon  in  two,  which  no  doubt  required  a  very 
desperate  stroke,  even  from  a  prophet's  arm !  They  tell  us  also 
that  trees  went  out  to  meet  him ;  that  water  flowed  from  between 
his  fingers ;  a  beam  groaned  at  him ;  a  camel,  poor  creature,  com- 
plained to  him  ;  possibly  knowing  him  to  be  a  prophet,  sent  to  re- 
dress all  grievances ;  and  a  shoulder  of  mutton  informed  him  that 
it  was  poisoned.  Stories  have  often  been  invented  by  wicked  men, 
with  a  design  to  depreciate  Christianity  in  the  world ;  but  we  dare 
not  say  that  this  bundle  of  absurdities  was  the  production  of  any 
wag  for  a  similar  purpose,  since  Arabian  writers  relate  them,  who 
were  superstitiously  attached  to  everything  Mohammed  either  said 
or  did,  and  who  would  not  have  uttered  a  syllable  to  his  prejudice, 
had  they  viewed  it  in  such  a  light. 

Perceiving  that  there  was  little  probability  of  augmenting  the 
•umber  of  his  proselytes  by  the  various  arts  he  had  hitherto  em- 

Sloyed,  but  that  a  cause  so  interesting  to  him  was  rather  on  the 
ecline,  he  resolved  to  effectuate  by  violence,  what  he  could  not 
accomplish  by  dint  of  argument.  The  number  of  his  adherents 
must,  however,  have  been  very  considerable,  before  he  could  ven- 
ture to  undertake  such  a  hazardous  enterprise,  since  his  ambitious 
views  were  blasted  forever,  and  his  very  life  at  stake,  if  he  did  not 
succeed.  Those  who  say  the  fewest,  allow  him  to  have  had  five 
hundred,  others  a  thousand,  and  others  more.  Finding  that  hia 
cause  would  flourish  no  longer  at  Mecca  for  the  present,  and  that 
every  moment's  delay  only  increased  his  danger,  by  strengthening 
ihe  rage  and  fury  of  his  opposers,  he  fled  to  Mediu  a,  with  as  many 
M  would  follow  him  This  city  is  about  two  hundred  and  seventy 


16  LIFE  OF  MOHAMMED. 

miles  distant  from  Mecca,  to  which  he  Certainly  fled  in  consequent 
of  an  invitation.  This  favorable  turn  of  fortune  he  improved  in  the 
best  manner  to  his  advantage,  and  the  number  of  his  followers  in- 
creasing so  fast,  he  resolved  on  the  reduction  of  Mecca,  with  all 
convenient  speed.  The  genuine  dispositions  of  the  man  now  began 
to  show  themselves  in  all  their  native  deformity,  and  to  evince  that 
rapine  and  murder  were  the  darlings  of  his  soul.  When  his  cruelty 
or  injustice  offended  any  of  his  disciples,  a  chapter  of  the  Koran  put 
everything  to  rights.  It  was  a  plump  argument,  that  God  author- 
ized and  countenanced  him,  and  to  gain  the  belief  of  his  follower! 
to  such  a  daring  assertion,  was  to  magnify  his  villany  into  some- 
thing meritorious.  Soon  after  his  arrival  at  Medina,  he  built  a 
house  for  his  own  accommodation,  depriving  some  poor  orphans  of 
the  ground  upon  which  it  was  erected.  Such  a  barbarous  deed 
excites  pity  in  the  bare  relation  of  it,  but  this  great  prophet  of  God 
could  perform  it  without  any  compunction  1  It  is  matter  of  lamen- 
tation to  the  good  man,  and  of  triumph  to  the  infidel,  that  religion 
has  been  so  frequently  made  the  imp  of  wickedness  in  every  age 
of  the  world.  It  is  a  melancholy  proof  that  no  degrees  of  impiety 
will  shock  some  men,  and  an  evidence  of  the  stupidity  of  the  mul- 
titude, in  believing  that  the  very  worst  of  crimes  can  be  the  off- 
Bpring  of  religion. 

As  all  authors  are  agreed  that  Mohammed  lived  thirteen  years 
at  Mecca,  and  ten  at  Medina,  at  which  place  he  died,  and  as  hia 
famous  trip  to  heaven  is  placed  in  the  twelfth  year  of  his  pretended 
mission,  it  will  be  proper  to  take  some  notice  of  it  here.  Being  in 
bed  one  night  with  his  best  beloved  wife  Ayesha,  he  had  a  very 
familiar  visit  paid  to  him  by  the  angel  Gabriel.  On  examining 
the  performances  of  Raphael,  Titian  or  Van  Dyke,  we  do  not  find 
that  they  ever  painted  an  angel  with  more  than  two  pinions.  It 
follows,  therefore,  that  they  have  never  favored  the  world  with  a 
picture  of  Gabriel,  since  Mohammed,  who  behooved  to  know  the 
true  state  of  the  matter,  informs  us  that  he  had  seventy  brace  of 
wings  !  It  seems  too,  that  he  is  as  much  master  of  etiquette  as  any 
teacher  of  manners  whatever,  for  he  very  politely  rapped  at  Mo- 
hammed's door.  On  gaining  admittance,  he  shook  the  good  old 
prophet  most  lovingly  by  the  hand,  telling  him  that  he  was  sent  to 
jonduct  him  to  the  divine  presence,  to  receive  the  finishing  touches 
of  hia  glorious  mission.  A  galloway  called  Alborak,  as  white  as 
milk,  was  ready  to  carry  him,  a  beast  on  which  the  prophets  had 
ridden  some  thousand  years  before.  But  while  Gabriel  held  the 
bridle  till  Mohammed  should  mount,  the  creature  began  to  kick 
and  plunge  with  such  fury  and  desperation,  that  he  could  not  get 
up.  Had  the  stupid  animal  known  the  honor  that  was  intended 
Lim,  in  being  employed  to  carry  such  a  load  of  holiness  on  such  an 
important  errand,  instead  of  exhibiting  ao  much  rusticity  and  want 
of  breeding,  he  would  have  neighed  with  transport.  However,  a 
lucky  thought  came  into  the  good  man's  head  at  this  critical  June- 


LIFE  OF  MOHAMMED.  17 

ture,  which  accomplished  his  aim.  He  faithfully  promised  to  Albo 
rak,  that  if  he  would  let  him  mount,  without  any  more  ado,  he 
should  be  rewarded  in  the  end  with  a  seat  in  paradise.  And  to 
say  the  truth,  the  paradise  of  Mohammed  is  fitter  for  quadruped* 
than  for  rational  beings.  This  had  its  intended  effect,  when  awaj 
they  set  for  Jerusalem  much  quicker  than  lightning.  Alborak  be- 
ing fastened  to  the  iTxit  of  a  rock,  they  instantly  reached  the  first 
of  the  seven  heavens,  composed  entirely  of  solid  silver.  Here  was 
an  old  decrepit  man,  who  turned  out  to  be  Adam,  the  father  of  \aa 
all,  and  who,  embracing  the  prophet  with  great  tenderness,  thanked 
God  for  giving  him  such  a  son,  as  well  he  might ;  for  certainly  he 
was  a  most  hopeful  and  promising  child !  Here  too  he  saw  the 
stars  hanging  by  golden  chains  suspended  from  the  roof,  which  is  a 
hint  to  you,  ye  advocates  for  the  Copernican  system,  who  absurdly 
believe  that  the  planets  roll  round  the  sun !  At  the  distance  of 
five  hundred  years'  journey,  according  to  the  usual  rate  of  travel- 
ling upon  earth,  they  reached  the  second  heaven,  which  was  all  of 
pure  gold.  In  it  he  met  with  Noah,  who,  from  a  deep  conviction 
of  his  inferiority,  recommended  himself  to  his  prayers.  The  third 
heaven  was  of  precious  stones,  in  which  Abraham  resided  ;  but  a 
sight  of  him  was  a  trifle,  compared  to  an  angel,  on  whom  he  gazed 
with  astonishment.  The  distance  between  his  eyes  was  seventy 
thousand  days'  journey,  and  consequently  his  whole  height  was  five 
millions  forty  thousand,  or  four  times  as  high  as  all  his  heavens  put 
together,  since  each  was  distant  from  the  other  five  hundred  years' 
journey.  You  must  not  be  surprised  if  he  stood  right  up  between 
the  third  and  fourth,  although  higher  than  all  the  seven ;  for  if 
you  cannot  give  it  your  reason,  an  Arabian  can  give  it  his  faith. 
You  may  say  indeed,  that  it  requires  pretty  strong  faith ;  but 
surely  it  calls  for  no  stronger  belief  than  the  Roman  Catholic  pos- 
sessed, when  he  exclaimed,  on  his  being  fairly  conquered  by  argu- 
ment, "  credo  quod  impossibile  est  I " 

The  fourth  heaven  was  made  of  emerald,  in  which  Joseph 
dwelt :  —  The  fifth  was  of  adamant,  the  residence  of  Moses,  with 
whom  he  had  a  conference :  —  The  sixth  was  of  carbuncle,  the 
aliode  of  John  the  Baptist ;  and  the  seventh  of  divine  light,  where 
he  found  Jesus  Christ.  It  is  worthy  of  observation,  that  all  whom 
he  saw  in  each  heaven,  recommended  themselves  to  the  efficacy  of 
his  prayers ;  but  he  confesses  that  he  himself  requested  the  prayers 
of  Christ.  We  do  not  suppose  that  this  humility  was  genuine,  but 
that  he  paid  him  this  compliment  to  flatter  the  Christians,  who 
had  always  greater  indulgences  from  him  than  the  Jews,  and 
whose  favor  and  friendship  he  studiously  courted.  There  was  also 
a  very  remarkable  angel  in  this  highest  heaven,  for  he  had  no 
'ewer  than  seventy  thousand  heads,  (Mohammed  you  see,  did  not 
deal  in  trifles,)  in  each  head  seventy  thousand  tongues,  and  each 
tongue  tittered  seventy  thousand  distinct  voices  at  once.  That  is, 
he  spoke  audibly  three  hundred  forty  three  millions  of  millions  of 


18  LIFE   OF  MOHAMMED. 

words  in  an  instant,  and  therefore  if  he  could  write  with  the  sam« 
expedition,  he  must  have  been  able  to  compose  eighty- five  millions, 
•even  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  folio  volumes  almost  in  the  twink- 
ling of  an  eye,  though  we  allow  four  millions  of  words  to  each  ! !  On 
Mohammed's  arriving  within  two  bow-shots  of  the  throne  of  God, 
he  perceived  his  face  covered  with  70,000  veils,  but  when  he  came 
near  it  through  water  and  snow,  the  hand  of  the  Almighty  was  se 
cold,  when  laid  upon  his  back,  that  it  penetrated  to  the  very  mar- 
row.  Having  obtained  important  secrets,  which  it  was  not  lawful 
to  utter,  and  having  been  informed  that  he  should  be  (which  was 
the  very  cream  of  the  journey)  the  greatest  man  upon  earth, 
he  was  conducted  back  again  by  Gabriel  to  the  foot  of  the  rock, 
where  mounting  Alborak,  he  was  presently  at  home. 

The  Arabians  themselves  could  not  help  laughing  at  this  great 
story,  when  it  was  related  by  him  the  next  day.  Some  of  his 
converts  were  perfectly  ashamed,  and  it  occasioned  a  considerable 
diminution  of  his  influence  for  a  little  time  ;  but  by  the  timely  and 
artful  interference  of  Abu  Bekr,  another  of  his  uncles,  the  defec- 
tion was  prevented  from  increasing.  This  man  was  a  convert  to 
the  truth  of  his  pretended  mission,  and  succeeded  him  in  the  regal 
and  pontifical  dignity.  It  became  next  a  subject  for  discussion, 
whether  it  was  a  real  journey  or  a  vision,  which  gave  rise  to  much 
altercation  among  his  followers.  The  more  rational  part  of  them 
would  have  had  it  only  a  vision  or  a  dream,  since  they  found  it  by 
no  means  safe  to  give  the  prophet  the  lie  by  declaring  it  a  fabrica- 
tion ;  but  that  it  was  a  real  journey  was  the  opinion  which  gained 
the  victory,  as  it  had  Mohammed  and  Abu  Bekr  on  its  side.  The 
Impostor  himself  having  now  had  considerable  experience  of  the 
success  of  his  Koran,  when  viewed  as  a  revelation,  determined  tc 
give  currency  to  this  journey  of  his,  by  another  chapter,  in  which 
he  brings  in  God  himself  as  vouching  for  the  truth  of  every  par- 
ticular. The  contemplative  mind  stands  astonished  at  this  stu- 
pendous wickedness,  and  wonders  how  human  nature  could  per 
petrate  such  deliberate  villany.  But  indeed,  when  the  stings  of 
conscience  are  so  blunted  as  to  permit  a  man  with  impunity  to 
commence  an  impostor,  there  is  nothing  in  the  whole  compass  of 
human  depravity  at  which  he  will  startle. 

Being  now  at  Medina,  and  enjoying  the  attachment  of  a  con- 
siderable body  oi  men,  he  made  frequent  attacks  upon  the  adja- 
cent towns  and  villages,  distributing  the  booty  taken  from  the 
vanquished  among  his  soldiers,  and  reducing  the  inhabitants  to 
slavery,  who  procured  their  emancipation  by  the  acceptance  of  hi 
religion.  In  short,  after  he  had  subdued  Mecca,  which  he  was  not 
long  in  accomplishing  after  his  flight  from  it,  he  carried  his  victo- 
rious arms  through  the  greater  part  of  Arabia,  and  even  into 
Syria ;  and  till  he  put  his  cause  out  of  the  reach  of  danger,  it 
continued  to  be  supported  in  the  same  bloody  manner.  Such  was 
'.be  terror  and  consternation  which  his  victories  occasioned  every- 


LIFE  OF   MOHAMMED.  li 

where,  that  many  places  surrendered  to  kirn  which  luj  tad  not 
actually  visited  in  person,  whose  inhabitants  procured  their  liberty 
on  the  common  terms  of  bartering  their  consciences. 

Having  reduced  Mecca,  the  place  of  his  nativity,  which  he 
marched  against  with  about  ten  thousand  men,  he  put.  to  death  all 
those  whom  he  suspected  to  be  his  most  inveterate  enemies,  giving 
pardon  to  the  rest  on  a  formal  recantation  ;  and  having  committed 
the  government  of  the  city  to  a  confidential  deputy,  he  returned 
to  Medina,  for  he  did  not  deem  it  safe  to  dwell  any  longer  in  a 
jlace  where  he  might  every  moment  run  the  risk  of  being  secretly 
despatched. 

The  Arabs  compute  their  time  from  the  period  at  which  Moham- 
med fled  from  Mecca,  which  they  call  the  Hegira,  a  word  that  in 
their  language  signifies  flight.  This  is  similar  to  the  Grecian 
method  of  computing  from  the  first  institution  of  the  Olympic 
games,  and  the  Roman  practice  of  dating  from  the  foundation  of 
the  city.  Formerly  the  Mohammedans  computed  from  the  last 
war  in  which  they  had  been  engaged. 

Mohammed  having  a  deep  rooted  enmity  against  the  Jews,  made 
war  upon  all  those  adjacent  tribes  who  professed  that  religion.  It 
is  perhaps  difficult  to  assign  a  reason  why  his  animosity  had  neither 
limits  to  its  rage,  nor  termination  to  its  existence  ;  but  we  find  one 
circumstance  mentioned  by  some  authors,  which  the  Impostor 
might  view  as  a  vindication  of  its  occasional  sallies.  A  certain 
Jew,  named  Caab,  having  a  brother  who  had  espoused  the  religion 
of  Mohammed,  he  composed  on  the  occasion  a  ludicrous  poem,  in 
which  he  exhibited  the  fooleries  and  nonsense  of  that  religion  in 
such  a  satirical  light,  that  the  prophet  determined  to  take  ven- 
geance on  every  tribe  professing  Judaism  on  his  account.  Such 
is  the  tendency  of  satirical  compositions,  if  well  written,  that  they 
unavoidably  exasperate  the  persons  against  whom  they  are  lev- 
elled, if  they  do  not  reclaim  them.  Rage  being  the  effect  which 
Caab's  poem  produced,  Mohammed  gave  strict  orders  to  appre- 
hend, and  bring  him  to  condign  punishment.  And  in  order  the 
better  to  secure  the  performance  of  his  command,  he  offered  a 
reward  to  the  person  who  should  seize  him.  On  his  being  appre- 
hended and  brought  before  him,  the  poem  was  recited  by  the  au- 
ihor  in  his  hearing ;  after  inserting  the  name  of  Abu  Bekr  instead 
of  Mohammed,  which  it  seems  occurred  very  often,  expecting 
thereby  to  mitigate  his  fury.  But  finding  him  by  no  means  in- 
clined to  the  side  of  clemency  for  this  alteration,  Caab  had  re- 
course to  an  expedient,  which  answered  his  purpose,  rescued  him 
from  impending  destruction,  and  even  obtained  him  the  intimacy 
«md  patronage  of  the  prophet.  The  Impostor  having  received  a 
new  mistress  by  way  of  present,  an  object  it  seems,  who  was  the 
very  darling  of  his  soul,  Caab  wrote  a  poem  in  commendation  of 
her  charms,  so  exactly  suited  to  the  palate  of  the  pretended 
prophet,  that  he  buried  bis  resentment  m  an  excess  of  kindnesa 


20  LIFE  OF  MOHAMMED. 

Presence  of  mind,  if  it  be  not  a  virtue,  is  nevertheless  of  such  inv 
portance  to  its  possessor,  that  it  frequently  delivers  him  from 
greater  trials,  difficulties,  and  embarrassments,  than  any  of  the 
lour  which  are  denominated  cardinal. 

The  whole  life  of  Mohammed  after  his  flight  to  Medina,  was  one 
continued  scene  of  butchery  and  rapine.  He,  with  his  associates 
and  followers,  plundered  every  caravan  of  its  valuable  commodi- 
ties, if  not  guarded  by  a  force  superior  to  his  own,  in  which  case 
he  was  obliged  to  make  a  precipitate  retreat  in  order  to  save  his 
life.  It  often  happened,  however,  that  there  arose  much  disputa- 
tion among  his  followers,  how  the  booty  should  be  divided,  to  which 
he  put  a  final  period  by  the  eighth  chapter  of  his  Koran.  He 
there  assigned  one  fifth  part  to  himself,  and  ordered  the  rest  to  be 
divided  among  his  soldiers.  Strict  discipline  and  subordination 
are  not  easily \ept  up  among  freebooters  and  thieves,  for  even  the 
captain  of  such  a  gang  will  soon  dwindle  into  contempt,  and  per- 
haps be  in  danger  of  losing  his  life,  if  he  discovers  a  determined 
resolution  to  have  an  immoderate  share.  Such  is  the  nature  of 
his  employment,  that  he  must  rather  make  his  portion  the  result 
of  their  concessions,  than  of  his  own  stern  authority.  With  this 
fact  Mohammed  seems  to  have  been  perfectly  acquainted,  and 
therefore  as  he  had  small  hopes  of  composing  their  differences  or 
silencing  their  murmurs  by  his  exertions  as  a  man,  he  had  recourse 
to  his  old  trade  of  fetching  authority  from  heaven,  and  made  God 
the  umpire  between  him  and  his  followers.  He  was  very  fortunate 
in  his  battles,  if  success  in  a  desperately  wicked  cause  deserves  the 
appellation  ;  but  amidst  the  wonderful  and  mysterious  vicissitudes 
of  human  affairs,  it  was  not  to  be  expected  that  he  would  always 
be  victorious.  The  most  distinguished  favorites  of  fortune,  whether 
in  the  senate  or  the  field,  never  experienced  sninterrupted  suc- 
cess. At  the  battle  of  Ohud  he  was  obliged  to  retreat,  having 
lost  a  considerable  number  of  his  men,  whom  he  left  dead  on  the 
field.  As  many  of  his  adherents  concluded  that  the  prophet  of 
God  would  be  invulnerable,  and  his  army  crowned  with  universal 
triumph,  they  could  not  help  murmuring  against  him  on  the  loss 
af  their  relations,  which,  as  it  betrayed  a  spirit  of  disaffection,  he 
prepared  himself  to  suppress.  He  attempted  to  persuade  them 
that  their  defeat  was  to  be  ascribed  to  the  wickedness  of  some  who 
followed  him,  against  whom  it  thus  pleased  the  Almighty  to  testify 
his  displeasure.  It  is  no  doubt  true,  that  the  Supreme  Being  haa 
sometimes  shown  his  hatred  of  vice  by  the  complete  discomfiture 
of  the  vicious ;  but  Mohammed  very  artfully  attributed  the  wick- 
edness in  this  case  to  an  improper  source.  If,  instead  of  consider- 
ing it  as  a  punishment  for  the  sins  of  his  followers,  he  had  honestly 
confessed  that  it  was  for  the  crimes  of  their  leader,  we  should  have 
given  him  credit  for  the  acknowledgment,  and  considered  it  aa 
pretty  near  the  truth.  In  addition  to  this  he  made  use  of  an  old 
•xpedient  which  had  frequently  served  bis  turn  upon  former  occ* 


LIFE  OF  MOHAMMED.  21 

lions  —  his  beloved  doctrine  of  fate  and  destiny.  He  observed 
that  the  very  moment  of  every  man's  death  is  fixed,  beyond  which 
no  caution  can  ever  carry  him,  nor  the  greatest  negligence  or 
danger  prevent  him  from  reaching.  That  it  is  all  one  as  to  th« 
time  of  his  departure  whether  he  is  at  home  or  in  the  field  of  bat- 
tle. But  he  gave  the  finishing  stroke  to  his  sophistry  upon  thii 
subject  by  affirming  that  such  as  expired  in  battle,  in  defence  of 
religion,  would  unquestionably  be  rewarded  with  a  seat  in  para- 
dise. Nothing  equal  to  this  could  have  been  invented,  to  make 
men  fight  with  ungovernable  fury  and  .desperation,  which  the  very 
certainty  of  perishing  behooved  to  strengthen.  As  the  prospect  of 
death  increased,  their  brutal  ferocity  would  rise  higher  and  higher, 
since  the  point  of  the  sword  was  their  passport  to  heaven.  A  man 
of  an  enlarged  understanding  may  be  astonished  how  such  non- 
sense could  become  a  subject  of  belief;  but  let  the  fact  be  admit- 
ted that  it  was  believed,  and  then  the  consequences  which  we 
have  stated  must  follow. 

It  would  be  an  almost  endless  task  to  give  even  a  catalogue  of 
his  numerous  wars,  and  therefore  we  shall  confine  ourselves  to 
those  which  more  or  less  affected  his  circumstances  in  the  world, 
promoted  or  retarded  the  completion  of  his  fondest  wishes,  or  were 
in  any  way  instrumental  in  accelerating  his  death.  When  he  com- 
pelled the  city  Khaibar  to  surrender,  he  took  up  his  lodgings  in  the 
house  of  a  principal  inhabitant,  being  accompanied  by  an  officer, 
whose  name  was  Bashar.  Sitting  down  to  supper,  very  likely  with 
a  pretty  sharp  appetite,  they  fell  upon  a  shoulder  of  mutton,  which 
had  been  prepared  for  their  entertainment.  It  is  said  by  different 
authors,  that  the  landlord's  daughter  took  care  to  give  it  such  a 
seasoning  as  might  have  made  it  their  last  meal  upon  earth.  In 
plain  English,  we  are  told  she  poisoned  it,  and  that  it  proved  in- 
stantly fatal  to  Bashar,  who  died  upon  the  spot.  Mohammed  him- 
self not  relishing  the  taste  of  it,  ate  very  sparingly,  and  beholding 
the  tragical  end  of  his  officer  and  companion,  spat  out  the  morse) 
tr  at  was  then  in  his  mouth.  It  seems,  however,  that  he  had  pre« 
viously  swallowed  so  much  as  was  sufficient  to  shatter  his  robust 
constitution,  and  lay  it  in  ruins  in  the  space  of  three  years.  Few 
vegetable  or  mineral  poisons,  we  believe,  are  known  to  the  learned 
of  this  country,  but  such  as  accomplish  the  dissolution  of  the  body 
in  a  very  few  hours,  if  not  dislodged  from  the  stomach  by  power- 
ful emetics.  Yet  we  have  read  of  poisons  which  did  not  accom- 
plish their  object  till  the  end  of  many  years,  operating  as  slowly  as 
a  chronical  distemper,  and  bringing  down  to  the  grave  with  the 
lame  gradual  diminution  of  health  and  strength,  as  if  the  person 
poisoned  had  been  in  a  consumption.  Those  who  ascribe  miracles 
to  Mohammed,  contrary  to  his  own  acknowledgments,  probably 
allude  to  this  piece  of  flesh  when  they  say,  that  a  shoulder  of 
mutton  told  him  it  was  poisoned.  If  this  was  the  case,  it  had 
whispered  to  him  in  so  low  a  tone  as  not  to  be  heard,  or  else  it  had 


f2  LIFE  OF  MOHAMMED. 

only  vociferated  when  it  was  too  late.     Be  that  as  it  may,  th« 
whole  contexture  of  this  story  renders  it  extremely  suspicious. 

The  Impostor  had  reduced  this  city  to  obedience  by  his  victo- 
rious arms,  and  therefore  we  may  conclude  that  its  inhabitants 
would  show  him  all  possible  respect,  however  much  strained  and 
contrary  to  their  real  sentiments  that  respect  might  be.  since  he  had 
it  in  his  power  to  add  butchery  to  conquest.     True,  indeed,  some 
individuals  have  been  found  among  men,  who  could  make  the  most 
desperate  attempt  to  recover  the  independence  of  their  fellow- 
citizens,  and  lose  all  sense  of  self-preservation  in  the  magnitude  of 
the  idea.     Brutus  could  despatch  his  beloved  Caesar,  to  preserve 
the  liberty  of  his  country  from  the  assaults  of  despotism ;  but  we 
find  nothing  in  the  character  of  Mohammed's  landlord  which  can 
rank  him  with  a  Brutus.    He  must  have  been  either  an  innkeeper 
or  a  private  person  of  property.    If  he  was  the  former,  it  certainly 
would  not  strike  him  to  take  such  a  step,   since  the  prophet's 
money  to  be  paid  for  the  entertainment  was  as  good  as  another's. 
If  the  latter,  his  invitation  was  the  result  of  hospitality,  and  the 
farthest  in  the  world  from  a  design  to  murder.     It  will  be  to  little 
purpose  to  say,  that  the  perpetrators  of  this  deed  would  reason 
with  themselves  thus  :  —  If  their  prophet  and  general  could  once 
be  cut  off,  his  soldiers  will  become  so  entirely  dispirited  and  in- 
capable of  resistance,  as  either  to  surrender  to  the  mercy  of  the 
town  or  betake  themselves  to  a  precipitate  flight,  and  hide  their 
shame  and  disappointment  in  the  shades  of  obscurity.     This  would 
have  been  a  desperate  supposition,  in  which  the  odds  were  twenty 
to  one  against  them.     Besides,  the  whole  of  this  transaction  is  as- 
cribed to  a  giddy  girl,  to  which  her  father  is  not  once  supposed  to 
have  been  privy ;  and  therefore  to  make  her  reason  in  such  a  man- 
ner, to  draw  remote   and  dubious  consequences   from  premises 
beyond  the  reach  of  a  childish  understanding,  exceeds  all  power 
of  belief.    When  interrogated  why  she  ventured  to  commit  such  a 
horrible  crime,  she  is  made  to  reason  with  the  acuteness  of  an 
Aristotle.     She  said,  that  if  he  really  was  a  prophet,  he  would 
certainly  know  that  the  meat  was  poisoned,  but  if  ne  was  not,  she 
considered  it  as  highly  meritorious  to  rid  the  world  of  such  an  in- 
famous  wretch.     Here  we  have  a  view  of  things  ascribed  to  a  girl, 
perhaps  not  fifteen  years  of  age,  who  discovered  a  degree  of  sagac- 
ity and  discernment  not  always  to  be  met  with,  even  in  a  man  of 
fifty.    But  to  crown  the  whole,  we  hear  nothing  of  any  signal  pun- 
ishment inflicted  on  the  offender  by  Mohammed,  who  was  left  in  a 
situation  to  avenge  himself  of  his  adversaries,  nor  is  it  said  that  his 
euccessor  took  the  smallest  notice  of  it  in  a  vindictive  manner. 

As  to  the  single  circumstance  of  his  dying  by  poison,  there  must 
be  some  other  way  of  accounting  for  it  than  that  which  passes  cur- 
rent with  the  public.  The  persons  who  poisoned  him,  if  they  did 
•t  through  design,  would  undoubtedly  have  kept  their  own  secret, 
•nee  the  making  it  known  was  their  speedy  destruction.  If  it 


LIFE  OF  MOHAMMED.  23 

was  the  result  of  accident,  we  should  not  have  heard  the  girl 
reasoning  like  a  philosopher  on  the  merit  of  her  conduct.  In  a 
word,  it  seems  to  be  involved  in  impenetrable  darkness  how,  or  by 
whom,  he  was  poisoned,  without  admitting  a  number  of  absurdities, 
at  which  reason  recoils.  Poisoned,  however,  he  was,  as  he  ac- 
knowledged on  his  death-bed,  and  therefore  all  that  can  be 
said  with  certainty  is  this :  Mohammed  having  experienced  the 
snare  laid  for  him,  either  by  mere  accident  or  the  superior  sensi- 
bility of  his  palate,  might  perhaps  think  of  turning  this  circum- 
stance to  his  advantage,  or  of  allowing  his  followers  to  make  at 
much  of  it  as  they  could,  in  heightening  his  prophetic  greatness. 
As  there  was  probably  none  present  but  Bashar  to  witness  what 
quantity  he  devoured,  he  might  ascribe  his  escape  to  the  immediate 
hand  of  God,  whose  prophet  he  pretended  to  be,  and  that  he  was 
placed  beyond  the  reach  of  danger  by  his  heavenly  constituent. 
This  idea  might  suppress  his  resentment,  and  induce  him  to  make 
no  minute  inquiry  after  the  cause  of  this  calamity,  having  escaped 
himself. 

His  followers  having  now  a  leader  who  was  proof  against  poison, 
they  would  be  still  further  persuaded  of  the  truth  of  his  mission. 
Had  Mohammed  stopped  here,  and  observed  the  same  cunning  and 
privacy  in  his  last  moments,  which  distinguished  him  through  life, 
iiis  prophetic  reputation  would  have  been  much  augmented.  If, 
instead  of  complaining  bitterly  to  the  mother  of  Bashar,  that  ne 
felt  the  effects  of  the  bit  he  had  eaten  at  Khaibar,  then  corroding 
his  very  vitals,  and  hastening  his  dissolution,  he  had  given  out 
that  his  approaching  death  was  the  result  of  age  and  fatigue, 
bringing  on  that  momentous  period  which  is  the  common  lot  of 
humanity,  his  whole  life  would  have  been  one  consistent  scheme 
of  wickedness. 

From  the  reduction  of  Khaibar  to  his  final  dissolution,  a  period 
of  about  three  years,  frequently  feeling  (as  he  thought)  from  oc- 
casional twitches  and  pains  in  his  bowels,  that  he  was  not  so  invul- 
nciable  as  he  a>ad  his  followers  pretended,  he  became,  if  possible, 
more  bloody  and  merciless  than  before,  while  he  could  stand  upon 
his  legs,  confessing  that  to  be  the  sole  cause  of  his  death  in  the 
extremity  of  his  torture,  which  at  first  he  wished  the  world  to  be- 
lieve had  done  him  no  injury.  Before  his  departure  he  nominated 
Abu  Bekr  his  successor,  to  whose  particular  care  and  protection 
be  recommended  his  beloved  wife,  Ayesha.  He  gave  up  the  ghost 
in  the  sixty-third  year  of  his  age,  according  to  the  Arabian  com- 
putation, or  in  the  sixty-first  according  to  ours.  His  death  was 
matter  of  astonishment  to  many  of  his  adherents,  who  considered  it 
as  incompatible  with  the  nature  and  design  of  his  mission.  They 
concluded,  therefore,  that  he  was  only  asleep,  and  would  assuredly 
return  in  the  space  of  a  few  days.  Finding  him  not  at  all  disposed 
to  return,  they  gave  him  a  thousand  years  to  finish  his  journey, 
which  brought  it  down  to  1632.  As  there  was  still  no  appearance 


J4  LIFE   OF  MOHAMMED. 

of  the  good  prophet's  coming  back,  they  gave  him  a  thousand  yean 
more. 

Abu  Bekr  put  a  period  to  the  controversy  respecting  his  exit, 
by  proving  out  of  the  Koran,  that  the  prophet  of  God  behooved 
to  die.  They  were  also  divided  in  opinion  as  to  the  manner  and 
place  of  his  interment;  whether  his  remains  should  be  conducted 
to  Mecca,  and  there  deposited  with  his  ancestors  in  the  place  of 
his  nativity.  This  was  likewise  managed  by  the  influence  and  ad- 
dre,«  of  his  uncle,  who  commanded  a  grave  to  be  dug  in  the  place 
where  Ayesha's  bed  stood.  Here  was  Mohammed  buried,  and  01  er 
his  grave  a  mosque  or  place  of  worship  was  afterwards  erected.  It 
is  not  true  the  the  Arabs  were  required  to  pay  divine  honors  to 
him  in  the  grave,  for  the  pilgrimages  of  his  followers  were  directed 
to  be  made  to  Mecca,  whereas  his  tomb  is  at  Medina,  two  hundred 
and  seventy  miles  from  it.  We  must  also  reject  those  ridiculous 
accounts  which  have  been  circulated,  probably  by  Christians,  of 
his  being  suspended  between  heaven  and  earth  in  an  iron  coffin, 
by  the  power  of  magnets,  since  the  Mohammedans  themselves  never 
attempt  to  prove  any  such  thing. 

Thus  have  we  endeavored  to  draw  the  character  of  Mohammed, 
and  the  various  methods  adopted  by  him  to  establish  his  imposture 
in  the  world,  from  the  period  at  which  he  assumed  the  title  of  the 
Prophet  of  God,  to  the  time  of  his  decease.  Lust  and  ambition 
were  the  two  powerful  motives  by  which  he  was  actuated,  and  he 
reckoned  no  sacrifice  too  expensive  to  accomplish  his  aim.  We 
have  seen  the  various  arts  by  which  he  insinuated  himself  into  the 
good  opinion  of  many,  making  them  converts  to  his  cause,  and 
how  respectable  he  became  in  their  estimation,  by  the  help  of  his 
wit,  presence  of  mind,  and  consummate  address,  before  he  had  re- 
course to  his  last  expedient  of  giving  mankind  his  religion  at  the 
point  of  the  sword.  For  ten  years  his  life  exhibited  nothing  but 
highway  robbery,  plunder,  and  bloodshed,  in  which,  considering 
the  number  of  his  forces,  and  the  extent  of  the  theatre  upon  which 
he  acted,  he  exceeded  in  atrocity  even  Alexander  the  Great.  To 
undertake  such  a  task  as  that  of  the  Arabian  Impostor,  required  a 
mind  an  almost  utter  stranger  to  fear,  in  addition  to  those  quali- 
ties of  which  we  have  already  found  him  possessed.  A  palpable 
discovery  of  his  perfidious  designs  would  be  the  forerunner  of  an 
ignominious  death,  and  even  to  be  vanquished  before  the  comple- 
tion of  his  wishes,  no  less  hazardous.  Yet,  in  spite  of  every  dis- 
couragement which  deliberation  must  have  suggested,  without  a 
rational  argument,  or  the  shadow  of  a  miracle  to  support  his  im- 
pious claim,  he  subjugated  a  larger  portion  of  the  globe,  than  the 
heavenly  and  philanthropic  religion  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  has 
yet  enlightened.  This  is  a  phenomenon  in  the  history  of  moral 
revolutions,  which  will  beggar  the  whole  world  to  produce  such 
another.  It  is  not,  however,  so  astonishing,  that  his  imposture 
ihould  have  gained  a  footing  in  the  seventh  century,  among  igno- 


LIFE  OF  MOHAMMED.  25 

rant  barbarians,  to  whose  lusts  it  promised  to  administei  everlast- 
ing fiiel,  as  that  the  progressive  improvements  of  reason  have  not 
long  since  been  its  grave.  The  free  exercise  of  reason  will  be  ita 
destruction  at  last ;  but  while  it  continues  to  be  crammed  down 
the  throats  of  mankind,  it  will  not  on  a  sudden  give  its  dying 
groan.  It  is  the  religion  of  India,  Persia.  Turkey  in  Asia,  Turkey 
in  Europe,  Arabia,  Little  Tartary,  Little  Bokharia,  and  various 
other  countries.  India  is  two  thousand  three  hundred  and  twen- 
ty-two miles  long,  and  two  thousand  one  hundred  broad. 

Long.  Broad. 

Persia,  1225                     900  mile*. 

Turkey  in  Asia,  1200                     900 

Turkey  in  Europe,  540  540 

Arabia,  1830  1260 

Little  Tartary,  450                     15R 

Little  Bokharia,  1560                    570 

Russia  alone,  only  one  empire  of  Europe,  is  more  than  twenty- 
five  times  as  large  as  England ;  yet  the  religion  of  Mohammed  in 
fects  and  enslaves  more  of  the  globe  than  six  times  the  whole  o* 
Europe  taken  together ! 

That  the  unbounded  gratification  of  his  lusts  was  one  primary 
object  to  be  gained  by  his  perilous  undertaking,  is  clearly  evinced 
by  the  multitude  of  his  wives.  Such  as  appear  desirous  to  lessen 
their  number,  admit  that  he  had  no  fewer  than  fifteen,  while 
others  (which  appears  nearer  the  truth)  inform  us  that  he  had 
twenty-one.  Five  of  the  number  died  before  him,  among  whom 
was  Khadijah,  whose  fortune  enabled  him  to  begin  his  projected 
plan ;  other  six,  it  seems,  he  divorced,  either  from  unaccountable 
caprice,  or  because  of  incontinency,  and  ten  of  them  were  living  at 
the  time  of  his  decease.  Besides  these  he  had  many  concubines. 
Ugly  and  deformed  as  this  picture  is,  and  consummately  wicked 
as  it  represents  him  to  have  been,  it  were  well  if  we  had  no  au- 
thentic documents  for  making  him  still  worse.  But  Mohammad 
not  only  gives  the  reins  to  his  appetites,  and  breaks  down  every 
barrier  which  nature  itself  has  erected,  but  lays  claim  in  his  Koran 
to  the  divine  approbation,  and  represents  a  holy  God  as  chiding 
him  for  his  diffidence  in  being  afraid  to  avow  any  passion,  which 
be  had  commanded  him  to  gratify.  Let  us  hear  no  more  of  the 
crimes  of  Francis  Spira,  Julian  the  Apostate,  or  Judas  Iscariot ;  of 
the  bloody  temper  of  Nero,  or  the  sullen  barbarity  of  a  Caligula 
or  a  Domitian ;  for  all  these  were  pious  saints  or  immaculate  an- 
gels, in  comparison  with  Mohammed,  and  must  be  ashamed  to  as- 
sociate with  him,  even  in  the  regions  of  the  damned.1 

1  Some  people  lay  claim  to  such  an  excessive  degree  of  benevolence,  that 
in  order  to  represent  the  Deity  as  merciful  in  their  opinion,  they  make  him 
unjust.  To  such  it  will  perhaps  sound  har^h  to  call  Mohammed  a  more 
wricked  wretch  than  Judas  Iscariot,  Nero,  Caligula  or  Domitian;  but  the 


26  LIFE  OF  MOHAMMED. 

It  will  not  bear  dispute,  that  his  ambition  was  ungovernable, 
•ince  every  action  of  his  life  tended,  either  directly  or  indirectly, 
to  the  acquisition  of  supreme  authority.  No  man  ever  hazarded 
•o  much  to  obtain  fuel  for  his  appetites,  and  absolute  doirinion 
over  his  fellow-creatures;  and  he  shines  conspicuous  above  the 
whole  human  race  for  unmingled  wickedness,  as  to  the  means  he 
adopted.  He  haa  both  men  and  devils  fairly  outdone;  for  al- 
though some  may  have  been  almost  as  wicked,  yet  he  is  the  sin- 
gular individual  who  could  venture  to  make  Almighty  God  the 
partner  of  his  crimes,  and  give  currency  to  all  manner  of  vice  by 
a  patent  from  heaven.  These  things  duly  considered,  we  shall  not 
wonder  to  find  many  of  his  followers  entering  the  lists  in  his  de- 
fence, and  writing  treatise  after  treatise  to  free  him  from  censure  ; 
for  although  the  Koran  is  sufficient  to  satisfy  the  faithful,  yet  in- 
fidels will  always  be  finding  fault,  even  with  such  a  spotless  life  as 
that  of  Mohammed  !  If  you  ask  his  deluded  followers  why  their 
prophet  co'Uu  be  guilty  of  such  an  horrid  act  of  injustice,  (besides 
the  impiety  of  it  in  making  God  commend  his  conduct,)  in  marry- 
ing such  a  number  of  wives,  be  not  afraid  that  you  shall  go  without 
an  answer.  It  was  that  he  might  beget  a  multitude  of  young 
prophets,  it  being  a  thousand  pities  that  the  genuine  breed  of  such 
a  man  should  ever  become  extinct  I  But,  oh,  what  an  unluoky  re- 
ply, when  it  is  well  known  that  not  a  woman  in  his  whole  seraglio 
had  a  child  to  him  but  Khadijah,  his  first  wife !  She  bare  him  MX, 
and  they  all  died  before  him,  except  Fatima,  his  daughter,  who  was 
married  to  his  cousin  AH ;  and  it  does  not  appear  that  she  was  any 
way  remarkable  for  a  prophetic  spirit. 

Setting  aside  altogether  the  impiety  of  calling  God  in  to  justify 
Buch  conduct,  there  are  very  few  men  to  be  found  who  will  at- 
tempt a  vindication  of  polygamy,  even  upon  rational  principles. 
The  primary  design  of  marriage,  with  all  the  duties  consequent 
on  the  union  of  the  sexes,  plead  for  monogamy  in  the  strongest 
terms,  which  is  further  strengthened  by  the  almost  perfect  equality 
in  the  number  of  males  and  females  up  and  down  the  earth.  The 
proportion  taken  in  many  places  with  the  greatest  accuracy,  is  as  IS 
to  12,  or  26  to  24.  The  God  of  nature  seems  wisely  to  have  in- 
tended this  surplus  in  the  number  of  males,  to  provide  for  those 
accidents  and  dangers  to  which  their  more  active  and  enterprising 
life  exposes  them.  The  man,  therefore,  who  is  guilty  of  polygamy, 
nay,  even  of  bigamy  itself,  commits  as  glaring  an  act  of  injustice 
against  the  whole  human  race,  as  if  he  spent  his  lifetime  in  acts 
u  robbery  and  theft.  It  is  of  consequence  impossible  to  vindicate 
the  conduct  of  Mohammed  in  this  respect,  even  admitting  that  his 
polygamy  had  not  been  rendered  more  shocking  by  his  own  dreadful 

tingle  circumstance  of  making  Jehovah  support  his  debauchery  will  justify 
the  charge.  Even  Judas  repented,  but  Mohammed  went  to  the  grave,  in 
•o  tar  as  we  know,  without  a  pang  of  remorse,  although  he  had  been  th« 
Bstrument  of  damning  myriads. 


LIFE  OF   MOHAMMED.  27 

blasphemy ;  and  to  crown  all,  the  supposed  object  of  such  deport 
ment  never  was  obtained.  I  say  the  supposed  object,  for  notwith- 
standing his  adherents  endeavor  to  extenuate  his  guilt  on  the  fore- 
mentioned  grounds,  it  does  not  appear  that  the  Impostor  looked 
any  farther  than  the  glutting  of  his  appetites.  Young  prophets  or 
no  prophets  he  considered  as  of  little  consequence ;  and  indeed  his 
voluptuous  course  of  life  was  inimical  to  procreation. 

His  votaries  have  likewise  been  much  perplexed  how  to  defend 
liis  conduct  in  propagating  his  religion  by  the  sword.  To  gain  the 
assent  of  mankind  to  the  truth  of  any  proposition,  it  is  necessary 
that  it  be  supported  by  convincing  arguments,  since  the  human 
mind  has  it  not  in  its  power  to  believe  without  evidence,  no  more 
than  it  can  reject  what  is  matter  of  fact,  and  demonstrated  to  be 
so,  whatever  it  may  pretend.  Hence  every  species  of  persecution 
for  conscience'  sake  is  the  most  flagrant  injustice,  the  highest  insult 
which  can  be  offered  to  the  Almighty,  and  a  tacit  acknowledgment 
that  the  cause  thus  supported  will  not  bear  examination.  For  if 
it  will,  why  are  not  men  permitted  to  examine  it  with  the  utmost 
attention,  since  the  native  beauty  of  truth  is  such,  that  to  see  and 
admire  it  are  inseparably  connected.  Jesus  Christ  was  so  diamet- 
rically opposite  to  Mohammed  in  this,  as  well  as  in  everything 
else,  that  he  seemed  afraid  lest  mankind  should  believe  him  with 
too  much  precipitation.  "  If  I  do  not  the  works  of  my  Father,  be- 
lieve me  not."  That  is,  if  raising  the  dead,  giving  sight  to  such  as 
were  born  blind,  and  feeding  thousands  with  the  food  of  a  few  in- 
dividuals, do  not  demonstrate  the  power  of  Jehovah,  and  exclude 
the  possibility  of  fraud  and  deception,  T  beseech  you  to  turn  your 
backs  upon  me,  as  in  duty  bound,  and  reject  me  as  an  impostor. 
But  as  Mohammed  had  nothing  to  offer  which  would  bear  inspec- 
tion, he  considered  it  as  the  most  effectual  method  to  make  an 
appeal  to  the  heart ;  and  surely  nothing  can  touch  the  heart  so 
feelingly  as  the  point  of  a  sword !  The  learned  amongst  his  fol- 
lowers, (for  learned  men  are  not  always  proof  against  delusion,) 
have  undertaken  a  defence  of  him  in  a  very  singular  manner 
They  observe  that  as  there  are  a  variety  of  attributes  in  the  divin« 
essence,  God  has  sent  different  personages  in  different  periods  of 
Lhe  world,  to  manifest,  sometimes  one  attribute,  and  sometimes  an 
other.  Accordingly  they  say  that  Jesus  Christ  was  sent  to  manifest 
the  righteousness  of  God;  Solomon  to  exhibit  his  wisdom,  glory, 
and  majesty ;  Moses  his  wonderful  providence  and  amazing  clem- 
ency ;  but  that  it  was  reserved  for  Mohammed  to  show  forth  bis 
fortitude  by  the  power  of  the  sword.  That  is  to  say,  God  appointed 
him  to  unman  the  human  race,  to  reduce  them  from  rational  beings 
to  necessary  agents,  to  render  them  no  longer  accountable  to  their 
Maker,  and  compel  them  to  do  evil.  The  divine  attributes  are  no 
doubt  many  and  various,  but  it  is  utterly  impossible  that  any  one 
of  them  can  ever  be  magnified  at  the  expense  of  the  rest.  God  \a 
tssentially  consistent  with  himself,  and  the  manifestation  of  one 


j>8  LIFE  OF  MOHAMMED. 

attribute  can  never  be  the  destruction  of  another.  He  who  sayi 
that  Jehovah  is  so  merciful  as  not  to  punish  the  workers  of  iniquity, 
exhibits  him  as  unjust;  and  to  affirm  that  he  is  so  just  as  not  to 
pardon  the  sincere  penitent,  «m  his  own  terms,  is  to  charge  hin» 
with  tyranny.  In  like  manner  to  assert  that  God  will  ever  force 
man  to  believe  anything  by  external  violence,  is  in  effect  maintain 
ing  that  he  is  sorry  he  has  given  him  such  faculties,  by  which  alon 
4e  is  capable  of  discriminating  between  the  operations  of  his  ow 
hands  and  the  shifts  of  a  deceiver.  This  hint  of  forcing  men  to 
believe  has  been  borrowed  from  Mohammed  by  the  Church  of 
Rome,  and  to  do  her  justice  she  has  faithfully  improved  it.  It  may 
be  proper  to  observe,  for  the  information  of  those  who  are  not 
qualified  for  abstruse  speculations,  that  the  criminality  of  compel- 
ling men  to  believe,  does  not  entirely  depend  on  the  falsity  or 
wickedness  of  the  proposition  to  which  their  assent  is  demanded. 
It  is  cruel  and  unjust  to  say  to  any  person,  you  shall  believe  that 
it  is  proper  to  worship  the  devil,  or  that  his  ghostly  holiness  can 
pardon  iniquity.  But  it  is  equally  base  and  tyrannical  to  force  a 
man  to  believe  with  a  dagger  at  his  breast,  that  the  providence  of 
(iod  extends  over  all ;  that  the  soul  is  immortal,  or  that  the  three 
angles  of  any  triangle  whatever  are  equal  to  two  right  angles ;  for 
rill  the  understanding  is  enlightened,  and  the  conscience  persuaded 
ol  the  propriety  of  a  man's  conduct,  his  reception  of  truth  itself  is, 
under  such  circumstances,  morally  evil  as  it  relates  to  him,  although 
it  be  not  so  in  the  abstract.  If,  then,  it  be  unjust  to  compel  a  man 
to  believe  truth,  since  he  thereby  for  the  present  flies  in  the  face 
'tf  conscience,  it  must  be  infinitely  more  so  to  force  him  to  believe 
4  lie,  especially  if  that  lie  assumes  the  venerable  garb  of  religion, 
l-iet  it  not  be  imagined,  however,  that  this  will  justify  any  man  in 
remaining  ignorant  of  such  truths  as  nearly  concern  his  present 
and  future  happiness,  when  he  enjoys  the  rational  means  of  being 
better  informed ;  for  God  will  only  consider  that  ignorance  as  in- 
uocent  which  is  clearly  invincible.  Neither  will  the  above  reason- 
ing justify  the  inference,  that  it  is  cruel  in  any  Protestant  govern 
ment  to  impose  certain  restraints ;  for  example,  on  Roman  Catholics, 
because  such  a  step  is  not  designed  to  make  them  believe  anything, 
but  only  to  prevent  that  moral,  and  especially  that  political  mis- 
chief which  would  unavoidably  follow  from  their  uncontrolled  ac- 
tion upon  the  principles  they  believe  already. 

God  forbid  that  Protestants  should  ever  persecute,  and  thereby 
make  a  formal  renunciation  of  the  spirit  of  Christianity ;  but  we 
trust  they  will  ever  discover  the  vigilance  for  which  they  have 
hitherto  been  so  famous,  in  guarding  their  native  land  from  the 
worst  of  all  tyranny. 

It  being  agreed  on  all  hands  that  Mohammed  was  extremely 
'gnorant,  in  so  far  as  that  expression  is  opposed  to  education,  could 
he  accomplish  his  designs  without  any  assistance  ?  This  is  an  im- 
portant inquiry,  because  he  could  neither  read  nor  write,  the  com- 


LIFE  OF   MOHAMMED.  J9 

mon  fate  of  every  person  in  Mecca,  except  a  single  individual,  who 
was  a  relation  of  Khadijah's,  and  who  had  been  both  a  Christian 
»nd  a  Jew.  He  was  likewise  brought  up  to  a  reverence  for  idolatry 
and  unacquainted  with  the  principles  of  Judaism  and  Christianity 
both  of  which  his  Koran  plainly  shows  that  its  authors  certainly 
understood.  How  he  acquired  this  knowledge  deserves  some  con- 
sideration. He  travelled,  it  is  true,  into  Syria,  Persia,  and  Egypt- 
while  factor  or  agent  for  her  who  became  his  first  wife,  in  all  whici 
countries  he  would  find  many  disciples  both  of  Moses  and  of  Christ . 
but  such  a  minute  inquiry  into  their  principles,  if  made  in  public, 
while  he  discovered  no  inclination  to  become  a  convert  to  either, 
would  have  excited  general  curiosity  to  find  out  his  reason,  and  this 
again  would  have  left  no  uncertainty  as  to  the  source  of  his  infor- 
mation. A  man,  ignorant  of  both,  must  have  required  considerable 
time  and  attention  to  become  so  well  versed  in  their  tenets,  as  the 
author  of  the  Koran  must  be  allowed  to  have  been.  We  should 
suppose  that  all  the  knowledge  he  could  acquire  in  the  course  of 
travelling  would  be  very  trifling,  as  it  would  come  accidentally  in 
his  way ;  for  a  man  whose  success  depended  on  privacy  would  not  be 
very  inquisitive.  Besides,  when  men  are  engaged  in  traffic,  and 
have  their  ideas  engrossed  with  the  disposal  of  their  commodities, 
they  are  not  in  a  humor  to  talk  much  about  religion.  Yet  no  man 
can  read  the  Koran  without  being  assured  that  he  did  receive 
assistance  from  some  quarter,  but  there  are  two  circumstances 
which  increase  our  difficulty  in  coming  at  the  truth.  Christians 
who  were  filled  with  indignation  at  the  wickedness  of  Mohammed 
might  perhaps  be  disposed  to  exaggerate  in  this  as  well  as  in  some 
3ther  things  relating  to  the  Impostor ;  and  his  followers  berag  de- 
termined to  support  the  divinity  of  its  origin,  would  not  make  any 
circumstance  public  which  would  injure  this  opinion,  if  able  to 
keep  it  a  secret,  however  well  acquainted  they  might  be  with  the 
truth.  Taking  therefore  the  testimony  of  those  authors  who  can 
be  least  suspected  of  having  any  such  despicable  end  to  serve  ae 
that  of  indulging  in  a  spirit  of  malevolence,  we  may  rest  assured 
of  this  truth,  that  Mohammed  was  aided  in  the  composition  of  nil 
Koran  by  a  Jew  and  a  Christian.  The  Jew's  name  was  Abdia 
Ben  Salon,  whom  the  Impostor  called  Abd'allah,  according  to  the 
Arabian  method  of  terminating  Hebrew  words.  The  name  of  the 
Christian  monk  was  Sergius  or  Bahira,  the  first  given  him  by  the 
Western,  and  the  second  by  the  Eastern  churches.  That  the  man 
is  one  and  the  same,  appears  from  the  uniformity  of  the  descrip- 
tions given  of  him  ;  and  the  reason  why  he  is  called  Sergius  in  the 
West  and  Bahira  in  the  East,  may  have  been  owing  to  a  change 
of  opinions,  and  subsequent  change  of  name,  the  Western  churches 
continuing  to  call  him  Sergius  from  their  ignorance  of  the  change, 
and  the  same  cause  inducing  the  Eastern  churches  to  call  him 
tlways  Bahira. 
All  I  find  related  of  Abdia  or  Abd'allah  worthy  of  notic*  IK 


80  LIFE  OF  MOHAJMMED. 

that  he  was  a  man  of  amazing  artifice  and  cunning,  probably  i 
native  of  Persia,  and  so  absolute  a  stranger  to  remorse  of  con- 
science on  the  commission  of  evil,  that  he  was  a  match  for  any 
thing,  however  desperately  wicked.  He  was  a  man  of  profound 
erudition,  skilled  in  all  the  abstruse  learning  of  the  seed  of  Abra- 
ham, and  even  promoted  to  the  literary  dignity  of  a  Rabbi.  A 
respectable  author  called  Johannes  Andreas,  who,  from  being  a 
Mohammedan  turned  Christian,  avers  that  Abd'allah  wrote  all 
Mohammed's  pretended  revelations  for  the  space  of  ten  years. 
This  instantly  lets  the  cat  out  of  the  bag,  for  however  much  his 
employer  might  insist  that  he  was  only  his  amanuensis,  we  who 
have  an  opportunity  of  investigating  the  matter  with  calmness  and 
attention,  must  dispute  his  veracity.  A  regard  to  truth  was  none 
»f  Mohammed's  failings,  and  therefore  all  he  could  say  upon  the 
subject,  will  not  free  him  from  the  imputation  of  having  this  fellow 
for  an  accomplice.  Being  as  little  disposed  to  boggle  at  immorality 
as  he  could  possibly  be  himself,  he  could  not  have  found  a  person 
in  the  world  better  qualified  for  his  purpose.  But  as  Bahira  could 
just  as  easily  have  betrayed  Mohammed  as  he  had  deserted  his 
former  principles,  the  Impostor,  who  no  doubt  perceived  this,  sent 
him  quietly  to  the  other  world,  when  he  had  no  further  use  for 
him.  Two  may  perhaps  keep  a  secret,  however  wicked,  but  it  is 
extremely  dangerous  to  trust  any  more.  Iniquitous  designs  have 
•uch  a  tendency  to  beget  a  spirit  of  jealousy,  even  in  the  project- 
ors, and  to  excite  a  competition  for  fame  or  emolument,  that  they 
perpetually  cherish  the  seeds  of  their  own  destruction.  Without 
honesty  a  community  of  thieves  cannot  long  exist,  and  without  a 
degree  of  confidence  in  an  accomplice  which  it  is  almost  impossible 
to  call  forth,  an  Impostor  is  in  perpetual  danger  of  having  those  for 
his  greatest  enemies  who  are  privy  to  his  scheme.  If  they  are 
chiefly  concerned  in  its  fabrication,  and  in  giving  it  some  shadow 
of  consistency  and  plausibility,  the  least  air  of  superiority  on  hia 
part  may  shake  it  to  its  very  basis,  and  neglecting  to  reward  them 
in  such  an  ample  manner  as  they  expect,  may  lay  it  in  ruins.  Of 
all  these  circumstances  Mohammed  seems  to  have  been  perfectly 
aware,  and  therefore  he  deemed  it  the  safest  and  most  prudent 
method  to  dispatch  Bahira,  since  this  would  render  it  impossible 
for  him  to  tell  any  tidings.  It  would  be  absurd  to  expect  a  par- 
ticular account  of  this  murder  in  any  historian,  but  the  inquisitive 
mind  can  discover  sufficient  premises  from  which  to  infer  this  ecu- 
elusion.  If  it  was  ever  known  to  any  that  Mohammed  was  the 
personal  perpetrator  of  the  deed,  it  would  naturally  be  ascribed  to 
any  cause  rather  than  the  just  one.  But  from  the  observations 
already  made,  the  true  reason  can  hardly  be  controverted  by  a 
reflecting  mind.  And  while  the  horrid  wickedness  of  Bahira  must 
be  execrated  by  every  pious  soul,  this  diminishes  not  the  guilt  of 
Mohammed  in  imbruing  his  hands  in  his  blood.  They  were  both 
Boosters,  but  the  employer  of  the  monk  was  infinitely  the  greatei 


LIFE  OF  MOHAMMED.  81 

villain,  since  he  added  murder  to  delusion,  united  a  wish  to  deceive 
the  world  with  a  breach  of  trust,  and  basely  violated  the  confi- 
dence which  he  had  induced  Bahira  to  repose  in  him.  Indeed  we 
deem  the  receiver  of  stolen  goods  as  bad  at  least  as  the  thief,  and 
therefore  the  countenancer  of  a  scheme  so  wicked  in  its  nature, 
and  so  dangerous  in  its  tendency,  met,  in  a  premature  death,  the 
(ate  he  deserved. 

As  we  wish  to  omit  nothing  of  importance  which  can  either 
exhibit  the  folly  and  superstition  of  the  Mohammedans,  or  the 
extreme  wickedness  of  their  prophet,  disdaining  at  the  same  time 
to  father  anything  upon  him  for  which  we  can  discover  no  authen- 
tic documents ;  it  will  be  proper  to  present  the  reader  in  this  place 
with  the  ridiculous  stories  concerning  this  monk,  which  are  firmly 
believed  by  the  disciples  of  the  Impostor.  We  are  told  that  Bahira 
meeting  Mohammed  in  a  city  called  Bostra,  on  the  confines  of 
Syria,  instantly  knew  him  to  be  the  great  prophet  that  waa  to 
come  into  the  world,  to  make  a  clearer  revelation  of  the  will  of 
God  to  men.  The  mark  by  which  he  recognized  him  was  a  light 
shining  from  his  face,  and  which  at  the  creation  of  the  world  was 
stamped  upon  Adam.  The  unity  of  this  luminous  appearance 
was  preserved  from  the  days  of  Adam  to  the  time  of  Abraham, 
when  it  was  converted  into  two,  one  resting  upon  Isaac,  and  the 
other  on  Ismael.  The  light  of  Isaac,  they  observe,  was  soon 
manifested  in  the  many  prophets  who  descended  from  him,  but  the 
light  oi  Ismael  was  veiled  till  the  time  of  Mohammed,  in  whom 
it  shone  forth  with  such  brilliancy,  that  Bahira  knew  him  in  a 
moment !  This  is  a  clumsy,  ill-made  allusion  to  the  shining  of 
Moses'  face,  when  he  came  down  from  the  mount,  which  rendered 
it  extremely  difficult  for  the  Israelites  to  look  upon  him.  They  all 
saw  the  light,  which  must  always  be  perceived  by  persons  who 
have  the  use  of  their  eyes ;  but  the  light  on  Mohammed's  face 
could  only  touch  the  optics  of  Bahira.  Everybody  else  in  the 
public  market  must  have  been  blind,  while  the  apostate  monk  wa§ 
as  quick-sighted  as  a  cat.  It  is  said  by  others,  that  he  knew  Mo- 
hammed by  the  seal  of  his  prophetic  mission  stamped  between  hii 
shoulders.  It  is  a  pity  they  have  not  condescended  to  tell  us 
whether  this  mark  was  on  the  bare  buff,  or  on  his  outer  doublet. 
If  on  his  upper  garment,  hundreds  must  have  seen  it  as  well  at 
Bahira,  and  if  he  instantly  stript  to  the  skin  to  make  the  wonder- 
ful discovery,  how  came  it  to  pass  that  all  this  hurry  and  bustle 
33  'aped  the  observation  of  the  multitude  V  If  it  is  pretended  that 
he  took  him  aside  to  examine  it  privately,  how  came  he  to  know 
that  such  a  mark  was  there  ?  It  is  manifest  that  he  would  not, 
tliat  he  could  not  have  taken  such  a  step  without  some  previous 
conviction  or  suspicion  of  its  existence  ;  but  how  he  acquired  this, 
is  the  question.  It  is  extremely  curious  that  he  should  know  him 
by  a  certain  mark,  which  he  did  not  know  was  there  prior  to  an 
examination.  Had  he  known  it  by  a  supernatural  impulse,  h« 


32  LIFE  OF  MOHAMMED. 

would  have  told  the  public  that  this  -was  the  prophet  of  God,  th« 
messenger  of  the  great  Allah,  and  that  there  was  a  particular  mark 
between  his  shoulders,  which  they  might  examine  if  they  pleased. 
Nothing  of  this,  however,  was  attempted,  for  it  seems  it  was  enough 
that  Bahira  knew  such  a  mark  to  be  there,  and  what  it  signified, 
without  permitting  the  people  to  act  the  absurd  part  of  judging 
for  themselves.  Those  who  would  not  wish  to  have  their  conduct 
touched  by  the  dirty  hand  of  inspection,  should  prevent  mankind, 
if  possible,  from  the  horrid  crime  of  thinking.  This  was  the  pru- 
dent, cautious  conduct  of  Mohammed  and  Bahira ;  but  the  passive 
obedience  of  the  multitude  in  giving  credit  to  the  existence  of  a 
£ght  which  they  did  not  see,  and  of  a  mark  they  were  never  re- 
quired to  examine,  remains  to  be  accounted  for,  and  perhaps  alwa»t 
will.  Truth  is  always  consistent  with  itself,  but  falsehood  is  so 
disjointed  and  incoherent  in  all  its  parts,  that  eagle-eyed  investi- 
gation must  discover  its  cloven  foot. 

The  deluded  votaries  of  Mohammed  being  determined  to  reject 
every  idea  of  his  having  received  assistance  in  the  composition  of 
his  Koran,  convert  his  very  ignorance  into  an  argument  for  its 
divinity.  They  allow  him  to  have  been  destitute  of  the  first  prin- 
ciples of  any  art  or  science,  challenging  the  world  to  produce  such 
a  work  under  similar  circumstances.  It  is  as  capable  of  demon- 
stration as  any  problem  of  Euclid,  that  he  had  it  not  from  God, 
because  his  design  in  fabricating  his  imposture,  and  the  means  htf 
employed  to  insure  its  success  in  the  world,  are  absolutely  repug- 
nant to  every  notion  of  the  Almighty,  which  the  lowest  and 
most  degraded  state  of  the  human  understanding  can  possibly 
form.  It  succeeded  by  humoring  the  darling  passions  of  corrupt 
nature,  and  durst  never  make  an  appeal  to  the  common  sense  of 
mankind.  Thus  much  will  be  granted,  that  the  Koran,  after  de- 
ducting the  blasphemy,  absurdity,  and  contradiction  with  which  it 
abounds,  is  the  very  standard  of  elegance  in  the  original,  discover 
ing  beauties  as  a  composition  in  the  Arabic  tongue,  which  no  igno- 
rant man  could  ever  have  exhibited.  But  this  can  be  no  argument 
in  favor  of  its  divine  origin,  while  it  carries  in  its  bosom  the  insignia 
of  the  devil,  and  abounds  in  obscenity  and  profligacy.1  It  is  noth 
ing  in  its  favor,  that  it  sets  out  with  supporting  the  unity  of  the 
divine  nature,  and  so  repeatedly  asserts  that  God  is  one.  Thu 
only  betrays  the  cloven  foot  of  Abd'allah  his  Jewish  confederate- 
who,  in  spite  of  all  his  Rabbinical  ingenuity,  artifice,  and  caution, 
aould  not  wholly  conceal  the  faith  which  he  formerly  professed,  not 

1  But  were  it  even  possible  to  obtain  a  miraculous  power  in  order  to 
dindicate  a  lie,  that  power  would  not  make  a  rational  being  credit  any 
voctrine  or  precept  which  dishonors  God.  For  instance,  a  miracle  coulo 
not  make  men  believe  that  the  Almighty  is  the  author  of  sin,  much  leii 
will  the  language  of  the  Koran,  however  elegant,  support  his  divinity 
while  every  sentence  of  it  almost  is  an  open  insult  to  the  Majesty  of  heaven 


LIFE  OF  MOHAMMED.  33 

»nly  in  one,  but  in  many  places  of  the  Arabian  Bible.  But  the 
truth  is,  he  did  not  wish  to  conceal  it,  since  a  part  of  it,  at  least, 
was  to  compose  the  part  of  the  Koran,  no  doubt  with  Mohammed'* 
consent  and  approbation,  after  he  came  to  understand  it.  When 
ever  any  mention  is  made  of  rites  and  ceremonies,  whethe-  to 
be  espoused  or  rejected,  the  mysterious  jargon  of  the  Talmuci  dis- 
covers to  the  discerning  mind  who  was  his  principal  coadjuu*. 
Without  the  aid  of  some  who  better  understood  the  Supreme 
Being  than  an  egregiously  ignorant  man,  born  and  brought  up  in 
an  idolatrous  country,  the  Koran  could  not  have  had  even  the  de- 
spicable merit  of  mingling  this  doctrine  with  so  much  wickedness. 
It  is  a  systematical  vindication  of  robbery,  debauchery,  and  mur- 
der, not  only  sanctioned  by  the  life  of  its  author,  but  blasphemously 
supported  by  the  authority  of  God  himself,  which  the  Impostor 
says  he  received  from  the  angel  Gabriel. 

We  do  not  suppose  that  it  was  material  to  Mohammed  what  he 
taught,  provided  his  countrymen  could  be  brought  to  believe  it* 
divine  origin,  whether  from  God  or  from  the  gods ;  the  legality  oi 
the  means  by  which  he  proposed  to  enforce  its  observance,  and  the 
undoubted  equity  of  his  claim  to  supreme  dominion,  both  in  things 
secular  and  religious.  True,  indeed,  he  had  much  opposition  tc 
expect  from  Jews  and  Christians,  in  the  infancy  of  his  scheme,  cA 
which  we  have  already  taken  notice,  and  therefore  it  was  a  piece 
of  consummate  policy,  for  which  he  was  certainly  indebted  to  the 
plotting  head  of  Abd'allah,  to  admit  into  his  system  some  peculiar 
leading  doctrine,  which  both  parties  believed.  We  cannot  allow 
that  Arabian  divinity  taught  men  such  ideas  of  God,  as  a  Jew 
could  communicate,  and  which,  it  must  be  confessed,  abound  in 
the  Koran,  notwithstanding  the  wickedness  it  makes  the  Almighty 
to  countenance.  Idolatry  is  incompatible  with  such  ideas,  tor 
when  worship  is  divided  among  a  thousand  deities,  the  mind  can 
have  no  such  exalted  conceptions  of  any  individual.  This  wa*  ttoe 
case  with  the  Greeks  and  Romans.  Under  the  fictitious  character 
of  Jupiter,  the  greatest  authors  would  have  us  to  perceive  Almighty 
God,  the  independent  ruler  of  the  universe ;  but  as  Jupiter  vrat-  fc 
thief,  a  whoremonger  and  adulterer  ;  a  scandal  even  to  mankind, 
and  as  he  died,  and  was  buried,  we  should  as  soon  credit  the  Koran 
as  adopt  such  a  sentiment.  Mohammed,  then,  by  giving  the  unity 
of  God  a  place  in  his  Bible,  took  off  a  considerable  part  of  that 
horror  at  his  religion,  which  must  otherwise  have  been  felt  by 
Christians  and  Jews.  It  was  thus  the  easier  for  him  to  make 
proselytes  of  people  so  torn  to  pieces  by  dissension  as  the  Eastern 
churches  of  the  Christians  then  were,  many  of  whose  members 
chimed  in  with  his  delusions  ;  and  his  own  countrymen  being  with- 
out any  religion,  properly  so  called,  were  the  more  likely  to  es- 
pouse opinions  which  offered  no  violence  to  their  passions.  It  was 
also  a  grand  manoeuvre  for  making  converts  of  the  Jews,  who  could 
ftv  no  means  stomach  the  doctrine  of  the  Trinity.  If  any  system 
3 


34  LIFE  OF  MOHAMMED. 

io  completely  wicked  could  bid  fair  to  suit  the  palates  of  every  de- 
•cription  of  men  at  the  period  when,  and  in  the  country  where  the 
scene  was  laid,  that  of  Mohammed  was  undoubtedly  the  system. 
Yet  we  have  seen  that  the  first  thirteen  years  of  his  pretended 
mission  were  spent  to  little  purpose,  considering  how  he  labored, 
and  the  arts  he  employed,  for  it  could  not  bear  the  touchstone  of 
reason  and  argument.  This  made  him  finally  resolve  to  adopt  th« 
method  already  taken  notice  of,  and  which  he  so  faithfully  used  for 
the  last  ten  years  of  his  life  —  to  give  speedy  and  extensive  circu- 
lation to  his  opinions  by  the  invincible  logic  of  the  sword.  Nay, 
it  is  still  customary  with  Mohammedan  preachers  to  deliver  their 
discourses  to  the  people  with  a  sword  by  their  side,  not  only  as  ex- 
pressive of  the  sublime  manner  in  which  that  religion  was  first 
propagated,  but  as  evincing  also  what  every  man  has  to  expect,  it 
he  ventures  to  dispute  its  divinity,  or  recede  from  its  defence. 
This  accounts  for  its  extensive  spread,  and  the  long  duration  of 
its  existence,  since  no  man  dares  venture  to  renounce  it,  without 
(he  certain  prospect  of  making  his  escape  to  some  land  of  liberty, 
or  of  meeting  death  in  its  most  dreadful  forms. 

Mohammed,  whose  time-serving  disposition  made  him  readily 
humor  every  whim,  caprice,  or  superstitious  attachment  of  his 
countrymen,  if  calculated  to  accelerate  the  accomplishment  of  his 
designs,  changed  his  first  resolution  of  making  his  disciples  turn 
towards  Jerusalem  in  performing  their  mummery  worship,  and 
gratified  their  wishes  to  give  Mecca  the  honor.  At  this  place  there 
was  a  temple  long  before  the  time  of  Mohammed,  consecrated  to 
idolatry,  and  converted  by  him  to  purposes  not  less  wicked  and 
impious.  It  is  said  by  the  Arabians,  that  it  was  originally  built  in 
the  celestial  regions,  sacred  to  the  devotional  exercises  of  angelic 
spirits.  According  to  them,  paradise  was  situated  in  heaven,  and 
Adam  also  worshipped  in  this  temple  before  his  fall.  Even  in  his 
lapsed  condition,  it  seems  he  retained  a  very  high  veneration  foi 
it,  and  therefore  humbly  entreated  the  Almighty  to  let  him  have 
one  like  it  upon  earth.  In  compliance  with  his  importunity,  the 
Supreme  Being  sent  him  down  one  in  a  curtain  of  light,  which  fell 
in  the  beloved  city  of  Mecca,  the  place  of  the  prophet's  nativity. 
But  the  third  son  of  Adam,  called  Seth,  wishing  to  have  a  building 
something  more  substantial,  erected  one  upon  the  spot,  composed 
of  stones  and  clay,  retaining,  however,  the  exact  model  of  the 
visionary  fabric. 

It  is  deeply  affecting  to  a  philanthropic  heart,  to  consider  how 
many  millions  of  rational  beings  are  degraded  to  the  rank  of  brutes 
by  the  consummate  artifice  and  wickedness  of  a  single  individual. 
They  gc  about  their  religious  farrago,  as  if  they  worshipped  God 
m  the  best  possible  manner,  resulting  from  a  well-informed  judg- 
ment, and  an  explicit,  indubitable  revelation  of  his  mind  and  will 


Superstitious  to  a  most  extravagant  height,  they  are  often  employed 
iu  sobbing  and  sighing,  entreating  Allah  to 


— *  ,  .    .   ,f  .•'. 

to  forgive  their  iniquities, 


LIFE  OF  MOHAMMED.  ft* 

»nd  all  on  a  sudden  they  are  as  merry  as  pipers,  feasting  and  rev- 
elling like  an  assembly  of  Bacchanalians.  Every  year  they  retire 
to  a  nill,  called  in  their  language,  Gibbel  el  orphat,  or  the  mountain 
of  knowledge,  two  months  and  nine  days  after  the  fast  of  Ramadan, 
to  receive  from  the  Iman  or  priest  the  supposed  honorable  title  of 
Hadgee.  On  their  way  to  Mecca  from  this  mountain,  each  gathers 
forty-nine  small  stones,  which  they  throw  by  sevens  at  a  time  at 
three  pillars  in  the  vicinity  of  the  mountain,  calling  out,  ston« 
the  devil  and  them  that  please  him. 

Within  the  temple  of  Mecca,  said  to  be  about  ten  times  as  large 
m  circumference  as  the  Royal  Exchange  of  London,  stands  a  solid 
square  edifice,  called  the  Beat  Allah,  to  which  the  Arab?  pay  such 
an  enthusiastic  regard,  that  they  deem  it  unspeakable  happiness 
to  be  soaked  with  the  rain  which  comes  from  the  roof  of  it.  The 
temple  is  without  any  ornaments  or  images,  as  they  abhor  idolatry, 
at  least  in  profession ;  it  is  destitute  of  pews  or  seats,  and  the  floor 
is  covered  with  mats.  They  believe  that  the  patriarch  Abraham 
or  Ibrahim  built  the  Beat  at  the  divine  command,  and  his  own 
sepulchre,  according  to  them,  is  but  a  few  paces  from  it.  The  city 
of  Mecca  is  but  a  mean  place,  without  any  walls  as  a  defence,  and 
the  houses  are  despicable.  It  is  situated  in  one  of  the  most  barren 
spots  of  Arabia,'about  a  day's  journey  from  the  Red  Sea. 

Having  formerly  mentioned  the  journey  of  Mohammed  to  heaven, 
and  commented  upon  it  as  it  deserved,  it  may  here  be  necessary  to 
assign  his  reason  for  the  fabrication  of  such  an  absurd  story.  He 
found  that  many  of  his  assertions  were  deemed  ridiculous,  and  that 
it  would  be  an  endless  task  to  compose  a  chapter  for  the  confirma- 
tion of  everything  he  might  have  occasion  to  advance.  He  there- 
fore tried  how  his  trip  to  heaven  would  take  with  the  multitude, 
to  the  belief  of  which  he  found  means  to  gain  their  assent,  by 
bringing  in  Almighty  God  to  vouch  for  its  truth.  To  have  invented 
this  story  sooner  than  he  did,  would  have  spoiled  all,  but  after  it 
was  believed  that  he  was  divinely  inspired,  it  was  easy  to  give  it 
currency  by  the  composition  of  a  chapter.  This  made  oral  tradi- 
tion as  much  respected  among  the  Arabs  as  it  was  among  the 
Jews,  who  often  raised  it  to  a  level  with  the  Scriptures,  and  thui 
Mohammed  gained  the  object  which  he  certainly  had  in  view.  The 
volumes  of  tradition,  made  up  of  his  sayings  and  remarks,  are 
called  the  Sonnah. 

As  Mohammed  always  admitted  the  inspiration  of  the  Old  and 
New  Testament,  or  the  divine  mission  of  Mosea  and  Jesus  Christ,  he 
thereby  stole  insensibly  on  the  affections  of  Jews  and  Christians. 
To  have  considered  them  as  impostors,  and  publicly  to  have  avow- 
ed that  these  were  his  sentiments,  might  have  procured  him  their 
warmest  opposition ;  but  to  insinuate  that  God  only  designed  his 
mission  to  be  more  effectual  than  theirs,  and  finally  to  accomplish 
what  they  had  not  brought  about,  was  a  masterly  snare,  which 
they  could  not  well  avoid.  To  combat  the  preconceived  opinion! 


86  LIFE  OF  MOHAMMED. 

of  mankind  with  success,  can  only  be  done  by  a  real  rnessengei 
from  heaven,  while  artful  villany  may  delude  the  most  penetrat- 
ing by  granting  all  they  desire.  But  this  acknowledgment  of  Mo- 
hammed pointed  still  farther,  and  was  designed  to  establish  the 
belief  of  a  proposition  more  interesting  to  him  —  that  these  very 
Scriptures  predicted  his  coming  as  prophet  from  on  high.  If  the 
Impostor  himself  pretended  that  he  was  the  subject  of  prophecy, 
the  idea  must  have  been  suggested  to  him  by  the  united  cunning 
of  Abd'allah  and  Bahira,  although  we  do  not  find  it  very  explicitly 
laid  to  his  charge ;  but  it  has  not  wanted  advocates  among  his 
ablest  adherents.  We  are  assured  that  God  cannot  predict  the 
coming  of  a  deceiver,  as  a  prophet  sent  by  him.  consistently  witl 
the  honor  of  his  glorious  attributes,  which  he  must  ever  defend, 
because  he  would  thereby  confound  the  distinction  between  good 
and  evil,  and  render  it  impossible  for  his  rational  creatures  to  dis- 
criminate between  truth  and  falsehood.  While  acquainted  with 
the  character  and  doctrines  of  Mohammed,  it  would  be  impossible 
to  believe  a  revelation  as  coming  from  heaven,  should  it  contain  the 
most  distant  hint  that  he  was  a  prophet  of  God.  Such  an  idea 
would  destroy  every  mark  of  divine  originality,  except  we  could 
demonstrate  that  it  was  a  wicked  interpolation.  But  as  both  the 
Old  and  New  Testaments  have  been  quoted  in  proof  of  the  justice 
of  his  claim,  it  will  not  be  deemed  impertinent  to  examine  such 
quotations. 

When  Moses  was  about  to  bless  the  children  of  Israel  a  little 
before  his  death,  he  thus  spoke,  Deut.  xxxiii.  2 :  "  The  Lord  came 
from  Sinai,  and  rose  up  from  Seir  unto  them ;  he  sinned  forth  from 
Mount  Paran,  and  he  came  with  ten  thousands  of  saints ;  from  his 
right  hand  went  a  fiery  law  for  them."  It  is  nc  doubt  an  unques- 
tionable fact,  that  the  Lord's  coming  from  Sinai  is  descriptive  of 
the  giving  of  the  law  to  the  children  of  Israel,  when  in  terrific 
majesty  he  descended  to  its  burning  top,  and  when  the  mountain, 
enveloped  with  smoke,  seemed  a  magazine  of  fire.  It  may  also  be 
allowed  that  Seir  is  a  mountain  in  the  vicinity  of  ancient  Salem, 
and  thus  Moses  and  Christ  may  be  represented.  But  when  the 
advocates  for  the  mission  of  Mohammed  indulge  in  their  sophistry, 
and  wish  to  consider  Mecca  as  the  place  intended  by  Paran,  they 
either  show  their  ignorance  of  its  geographical  situation,  or  expect 
that  it  is  a  very  easy  matter  to  impose  upon  mankind.  Paran  be- 
ing situated  on  the  confines  of  Palestine,  in  Arabia  Petraea,  no  less 
than  five  hundred  miles  from  Mecca,  the  undoubted  birthplace  of 
the  Impostor,  makes  it  a  very  unlucky  circumstance  for  the  credit 
of  his  religion.  As  well  might  we  prove  that  Euclid  was  buried 
in  Ireland,  from  the  first  chapter  of  Genesis,  as  that  Mohammed,  who 
was  born  at  Mecca,  drew  his  first  breath  at  Paran.  But  the  abet- 
tors of  a  desperate  cause  are  often  obliged  to  hazard  a  desperate 
proof  of  its  goodness. 

IB  Psalm  1.  2,  it  is  thus  written :  "  Out  of  Zion,  the  perfection 


LIFE  OF  MOHAMMED.  87 

of  beauty,  God  hath  shined."  In  one  particular  version  of  th« 
book  of  Psalms,  it  runs  thus :  "  Out  of  Zion  God  hath  showed  a 
glorious  crown ; "  which  last  words  are  by  some  translators  turned 
into  Arabic  by  eclilan  mahmudan,  an  honorable  crown,  and  last 
of  all  by  a  most  wonderful  metempsychosis,  it  is  made  the  crown 
of  Mohammed !  When  or  how  God  showed  the  crown  of  the  Im- 
postor out  of  Zion,  is  a  nice  speculation,  except  with  the  touch 
of  a  magician's  wand,  we  could  convert  Zion  into  Mecca,  which, 
by  the  way,  would  be  no  more  difficult  or  impracticable,  than  to 
change  Mecca  into  Paran. 

In  the  book  of  the  prophet  Isaiah,  chapter  xxi.  verse  7,  we  find 
the  following  declaration :  "  He  saw  a  chariot  with  a  couple  of 
horsemen,  a  chariot  of  asses,  and  a  chariot  of  camels."  In  some 
eld  versions  it  is,  a  rider  upon  an  ass,  and  a  rider  upon  a  cameL 
From  the  manner  of  Christ's  triumphant  entrance  into  Jerusalem, 
Arabic  writers  conceive  him  to  be  intended  by  the  rider  on  an  ass, 
and  as  their  countrymen  use  camels  for  beasts  of  burden,  to  be 
sure  Mohammed  is  the  champion,  which  here  rode  upon  a  camel ! 
According  to  this  mode  of  interpreting  Scripture,  there  is  no  ab- 
surdity which  it  may  not  be  made  to  prove.  You  have  only  to 
change  the  primary  signification  into  a  second  diametrically  oppo- 
site, this  second  into  a  third,  and  so  on  through  a  thousand  stages, 
if  need  be,  till  you  bring  it  to  the  meaning  required.  Thus  you 
may  prove  that  the  angles  at  the  base  of  an  isosceles  triangle  are 
equal  to  each  other,  by  the  music  of  the  spheres,  or  the  eternity 
of  the  world  from  the  nature  of  cause  and  effect. 

Once  more,  our  Saviour  informs  his  disciples,  in  his  valedictory 
discourse :  "  If  I  go  not  away,  the  comforter  will  not  come  unto 
you;"  John  xvi.  7.  The  deluded  votaries  of  Mohammed,  wishing 
to  make  the  world  believe  that  their  beloved  prophet  is  here  in- 
tended, have  taken  care  to  call  him  Paraclete,  which  is  derived 
from  a  Greek  word,  signifying  the  comforter,  a  most  easy  and  ex- 
peditious method  of  applying  the  whole  Bible  to  him.  So  it  seems 
Jesus  said,  that  if  he  did  not  go  away,  the  holy,  the  just,  the  mer- 
ciful and  benevolent  Mohammed  would  not  make  his  appearance, 
to  have  his  chaste  ears  grated  by  the  filthy  conversation  of  the 
wicked,  which  would  have  been  a  loss  to  mankind  not  easily  made 
up.  Although  it  is  almost  impossible  to  abstain  from  the  indul- 
gence of  irony  upon  such  a  subject,  yet  as  some  may  deem  it  in- 
consistent with  the  dignified  gravity  of  historical  diction,  we  shall 
vet  it  wholly  aside,  and  challenge  the  sober  reason  of  the  whole 
human  race  to  point  out  the  comfort  arising  from  the  religion  of 
Mohammed  to  a  single  individual.  Could  it  originate  from  his 
rapine  and  plunder,  or  the  rivers  of  blood  which  he  has  been  the 
instrument  of  shedding  ?  Did  it  flow  from  the  conduct  which  he 
allowed  men  to  exhibit  here  upon  earth,  from  the  tremendoua 
punishments  of  his  new  invented  hell,  or  the  fulsome  enjoyment* 
of  bis  fool's  paradise  ?  All  this  was  incompatible  with  substantial 


38  LIFE  OF  MOHAMMED. 

comfoit,  incapable  of  yielding  satisfaction  to  a  reflecting  mind,  and 
fit  only  to  be  imparted  by  an  Arabian  Paraclete.  There  are  nc 
doubt  seasons,  especially  among  ignorant  barbarians,  when  the  ver- 
iest phantom  may  have  the  power  to  terrify,  and  every  silly,  sinful 
gratification  possess  charms  to  allure ;  but  when  the  soul  is  once 
thoroughly  alive  to  a  sense  of  its  danger,  or  inspired  with  just 
notions  of  its  original  dignity,  it  must  be  something  more  thar 
burning  pitch  that  can  make  it  truly  alarmed,  and  more  refined 
fruition  than  a  bacchanalian  heaven  can  present,  that  will  b; 
found  sufficient  to  gratify  its  desires.  The  blasphemy  and  ab 
gurdity  of  Mohammed's  claim  to  a  share  in  the  predictions  of  th«? 
sacred  prophets,  can  only  be  surpassed  by  the  stupidity  of  tie 
people  who  can  set  their  seal  to  its  truth  and  justice. 

As  we  are  now  treating  of  the  cunning  and  artifice  of  Moham- 
med, the  above  instances  of  which  must  have  originated  from  Abd"- 
allah  and  Bahira,  we  shall  here  take  occasion  to  mention  another 
which  was  purely  his  own.  Being  afflicted  with  that  incurable 
malady,  the  epilepsy  or  falling  sickness,  he  made  even  this  subser- 
vient to  the  promotion  of  his  designs,  with  the  most  consummate 
address.  When  the  convulsions  came  upon  him,  of  which  it  is 
probable  he  had  previous  information,  he  declared  that  he  was 
then  so  much  overpowered  by  the  abundance  of  the  revelations 
imparted  to  him,  that  he  could  not  contain  himself.  The  efful- 
gence of  the  Angel  Gabriel  agitated  him  in  a  manner  delightfully 
violent,  by  the  celestial  visions  he  was  commanded  to  bring  him 
from  heaven.  This  was  every  way  similar  to  the  numine  affla- 
tus of  some  of  the  ancient  oracles,  and  both  were  most  eminently 
the  work  of  the  devil.  They  equally  imposed  on  the  credulity  of 
mankind,  and  were  leagued  against  the  salvation  of  their  immortal 
souls,  though  unacquainted  with  each  other. 

We  formerly  mentioned  the  undoubted  evidence  we  have  that 
Mohammed  had  wicked  men  to  assist  him  in  the  composition  of 
his  Koran,  but  we  omitted  a  circumstance  which  is  a  further  cor- 
roboration  of  the  same  fact.  In  his  journey  to  heaven,  he  saw  a  cock 
of  a  most  stupendous  size,  whose  very  wings  covered  the  surface 
of  the  sun,  and  caused  an  eclipse  of  that  glorious  luminary.  He  is,  it 
deems,  the  angel  of  the  cocks,  who  intercedes  with  Heaven  in  behalf 
of  the  whole  tribe,  and  when  the  Almighty  sings  a  morning  hymn, 
he  harmoniously  joins  in  concert,  so  very  loud  and  shrill,  that  all 
creatures  in  the  universe  hear  it,  except  men  and  fairies.  But  on 
the  day  of  judgment  he  will  crow  no  more,  which  will  be  a  warn- 
ing to  every  creature,  except  the  two  forementioned  classes.  Mo 
hammedans  reckon  three  voices  which  God  always  delights  tc 
hear  :  the  first  is  the  voice  of  him  who  is  constantly  employed  in 
reading  the  Koran ;  the  second,  the  voice  of  that  man  who  gets 
up  early  to  pray  ;  and  the  third  the  voice  of  this  huge  cock.  It 
was  a  capital  stroke  of  policy  to  exclude  all  men  from  hearing 
this  creature's  crowing,  since  no  other  animal  or  insect  could  cafl 


LIFE  OF  MOHAMMED.  39 

him  a  liar,  lo  be  employed  in  singing  hymns  is  incompatible 
with  absolute  perfection  and  eternal  independence,  and  therefor^ 
to  ascribe  such  an  exercise  to  God,  is  no  better  than  blasphemy 
All  this  nonsense  about  the  cock  was  not  the  result  of  Moham- 
med's own  prolific  invention,  but  entirely  manufactured  by 
Abd'allah,  from  the  Babylonish  Talmud,  in  which  there  is  a 
similar  story,  a  particular  account  whereof  may  be  seen  in  Bux- 
torf's  Hebrew  Lexicon. 

From  all  that  has  been  said,  it  is  manifest  that  the  issue  of  the 
dispute  between  us  and  the  enemies  of  Christianity,  must  termi- 
nate in  this  —  having  asserted  that  an  impostor  must  be  supremely 
wicked,  assisted  only  by  wicked  men,  have  secular  interest  entirely 
in  view,  and  being  capable  of  carrying  his  point,  without  terror 
and  compulsion  ;  it  remains  for  the  votaries  of  deism  to  prove, 
that  these  are  not  essential  prerequisites  of  every  deceiver.  If 
they  cannot  do  this,  let  them  try  to  fix  any  one  of  them  upon  the 
system  of  doctrines  and  opinions  given  to  the  world  by  Christ, 
and  we  shall  not  hesitate  to  renounce  it  as  an  impious  cheat. 
But  if  light  and  darkness  ;  nay,  if  good  and  evil  differ  not  more 
essentially  than  Jesus  and  Mohammed,  the  divine  mission  of  one 
cf  them  is  from  thence  fully  established.  The  religion  of  Moham- 
med is  a  religion  of  war  and  bloodshed,  but  that  of  Christ  recom- 
mends peace  and  benevolence.  The  one  cannot  exist  without 
rapine  and  plunder,  while  the  same  horrid  actions  are  an  eternal 
disgrace  to  the  other,  prevent  its  rapid  spreading  through  all  na- 
tions of  the  earth,  and  often  draw  down  the  vengeance  of  heaven 
on  its  unworthy  professors.  Peace  is  its  darling  theme,  and  peace 
it  shall  yet  spread  from  pole  to  pole,  in  spite  of  all  the  tyrants  and 
plunderers  upon  earth.  When  it  goes  forth  triumphant,  tramp- 
ling on  every  opposition,  and  repairing  the  ruins  of  Mohammedan 
butchery,  "  then  shall  the  wolf  dwell  with  the  lamb,  and  the  leop- 
ard lie  down  with  the  kid  ;  and  the  calf,  and  the  young  lion,  and 
the  failing  together,  and  a  little  child  shall  lead  them.  The  cow 
and  the  bear  shall  feed,  their  young  ones  shall  lie  down  together, 
and  the  lion  shall  eat  straw  like  the  ox.  The  sucking  child  shall 
play  upon  the  hole  of  the  asp,  and  the  weaned  child  shall  put  hia 
hand  on  the  cockatrice's  den."  Here  is  a  plain  intimation  that 
men  would  not  devour  each  other  in  the  ferocious  manner  they 
do,  were  th*  gospel  universally  felt  in  its  renovating  power,  and 
firmly  believed.  Every  \war.  except  that  which  is  purely  defen- 
sive, represents  man  in  a  more  odious  light  than  the  beasts  of 
prey,  who  never  worry  or  destroy  their  own  species.  We  may, 
iherefore,  learn  humanity  from  the  very  tiger,  and  blush  and  be 
ashamed  at  the  deportment  of  the  lion.  Tilings  morally  and  eter- 
nally wrong  are  not  changed  in  their  nature  by  refinement  and 
polish.  It  is  indeed  possible  to  give  butchery  such  an  outward 
glitter  as  to  deceive  the  unwary ;  out  the  philosophical  eye  sees  i< 
rutchury  still. 


40  LIFE  OF  MOHAMMED- 

We  have  much  need  to  recommend  the  benevolent  spirit  of 
Christianity  to  the  notice  of  each  other,  as  well  as  transport  it  it 
the  Pacific  Ocean  ;  for  the  civilized  European  who  murders  man- 
kind with  a  gilded  bauble  called  a  sword,  the  Indian  who  scalps, 
and  the  cannibal  who  eats  his  fellow-creature,  are  alike  unac- 
quainted with  the  gospel  of  Jesus.  Nation  shall  not  always  rise 
against  nation,  nor  kingdom  against  kingdom  ;  for  when  the  ram€ 
of  Jesus  is  universally  revered,  men  shall  not  learn  the  destructive 
art  of  war  any  more.  The  earth  is  large  enough  to  contain  us 
all,  and  God  intends  that  we  should  live  upon  it  in  peace,  harmony, 
and  comfort.  The  gospel  shall  annihilate  those  furious  passions 
which  gave  war  birth,  and  still  administer  fuel  to  its  devastations> 
and  the  whole  world  shall  yet  consider  the  exploits  of  Alexander, 
Miltiades,  or  Julius  Caesar  as  the  deadly  tricks  of  a  madman.  The 
celestial  hierarchy  proclaimed  peace  on  earth,  and  good-will  to- 
wards men  at  the  nativity  of  Ckrist,  and  therefore  those  blessings 
shall  be  enjoyed  in  their  utmost  extent,  when  the  knowledge  of 
him  pervades  the  globe.  Then  our  ears  will  no  more  be  stunned 
by  recitals  of  mad  crusades  in  support  of  a  thing  falsely  called  re- 
ligion, nor  of  empires  courting  disgrace  by  conquest  and  murder. 
Powder,  bullets,  cannon,  bombs,  howitzers,  and  grenades  will  be  no 
more  known,  except  the  benevolent  heart  may  think  proper  to 
preserve  them  as  monuments  of  human  folly,  and  pointing  to  them 
with  pity  and  astonishment,  exclaim  —  Lo  !  these  are  the  things 
which  were  held  in  estimation  by  our  progenitors  when  mankind 
•were  lunatics.  Let  it  not,  however,  be  imagined,  that  the  Chris- 
tian religion  disclaims  self-defence.  No  I  —  Such  indeed  have 
been  the  ideas  of  enthusiasm,  cant,  and  hypocrisy,  in  order  to  gain 
converts ;  but  the  man  who  will  not  defend  himself,  his  family,  or 
his  country,  is  an  enemy  to  God.  The  militia,  therefore,  of  every 
nation  under  heaven  should  be  spoken  of  in  terms  of  the  highest 
respect,  because  they  never  unsheath  the  glittering  sword  but  in 
defence  of  their  country.  Yet,  at  the  arrival  of  the  glorious  period 
which  is  to  behold  Christianity  universally  established  in  the  world, 
even  the  militia  will  be  no  more  required ;  for  when  none  upon 
earth  are  disposed  to  attack,  defence  must  be  useless.  Delightful 
era  in  the  annals  of  the  world  I  Not  a  single  individual  bearing 
the  name  of  man  can  be  such  a  monster  as  not  to  long  for  it 
Is  it  not  a  desirable  thing  that  man  should  become  the  friend  in 
stead  of  the  greatest  enemy  of  man  ;  glory  in  the  felicity  and  not 
in  the  destruction  of  his  neighbor ;  do  everything  in  his  power  to 
make  his  life  comfortable,  and  convert  all  instruments  of  murder 
into  laboring  utensils  ?  Drive  on,  O  Time,  thy  chariot  wheels, 
and  bring  the  ever  memorable  epoch  when  men  shall  gain  the  use 
of  their  faculties  —  when  there  shall  be  nothing  to  hurt  or  destroy, 
no  garments  rolled  in  blood,  nor  groans  of  expiring  myriads  tc 
harrow  up  the  soul  of  pity.  These  being  the  happy  effects  which 
khe  universal  spread  of  Christianity  must  produce,  in  spite  of  it* 


LIFE   01-    MOHAMMED.  41 

enemies  and  mongrel  professors,  the  monstrous  blasphemy  and  ab« 
•urdities  of  Mohammed  must  fall  before  it  like  Dagon  before  th« 
ark.  The  contest  is  between  barbarity  and  benevolenc  e,  between 
Jehovah  and  a  monster  in  the  shape  of  a  man,  and  therefore  judge 
who  shall  gain  the  victory. 

But  after  we  have  an  impartial  delineation  of  Mohammed'g 
life,  it  is  extremely  natural  to  ask,  what  is  the  use  of  it  in  the 
library  of  a  Christian  ?  It  can  be  no  more  agreeable  to  the  be- 
nevolent heart  of  a  disciple  of  Jesus  than  the  life  of  that  licensed 
thief  and  butcher  of  the  human  race,  Alexander  the  Great,  con- 
sidered in  itself,  but  it  may  be  made  interesting  in  another  point 
of  view.  He  who  has  the  honor  of  being  an  advocate  for  the  New 
Testament,  has  no  doubt  been  often  told  that  it  is  an  imposition 
upon  the  public,  a  system  calculated  to  deceive  the  world,  and  aa 
much  an  imposture  as  the  Arabian  Koran.  To  show,  either  how 
far  this  is  founded  in  fact,  or  how  clearly  it  demonstrates  the  igno- 
rance as  well  as  the  wickedness  of  those  who  make  the  assertion, 
we  shall  now  attempt  a  comparison  of  the  lives  and  systems  of  the 
two.  We  hope  to  demonstrate  as  clearly  as  the  divine  existence, 
or  any  axiom  in  mathematics,  that  if  Jesus  Christ  was  an  impos- 
tor, Mohammed  was  unquestionably  a  prophet  sent  from  God.  We 
shall  prove  that  there  is  no  other  alternative,  and  therefore  if  Mo- 
hammed was  a  deceiver,  the  divinity  of  the  mission  of  Christ  fol- 
lows of  consequence.  In  drawing  this  contrast  we  shall  do  what 
we  believe  was  never  done  before  in  a  controversy  of  a  religious 
nature.  We  shall  appeal  to  none  but  the  enemies  of  Christ,  and 
none  shall  be  permitted  to  speak  for  Mohammed  but  his  deter- 
mined friends.  This  is  more  than  any  deist  could  reasonably  ex- 
pect, and  more,  we  presume,  than  he  would  venture  to  demand. 
But  as  men  of  the  most  abandoned  principles  and  dejtortment 
uever  have  stained  the  character  of  Christ  with  anything  immoral 
or  ambitious,  and  as  the  greatest  advocates  for  the  mission  of  Mo- 
hammed have  never  been  able  to  deny  that  he  was  extremely 
wicked,  this  concession  will  do  no  injury,  uncommon  and  unpre- 
cedented as  it  is. 

The  very  circumstance  which  proves  that  Mohammed  was  a 
most  infamous  impostor,  demonstrates  that  Jesus  was  a  prophet 
eent  from  God.  No  two  personages  ever  appeared  in  the  world 
more  perfect  and  absolute  contrasts  to  each  other  than  the  founders 
of  the  Turkish  and  Christian  religion.  •  Christ  was  pure  and  un- 
spotted in  the  whole  of  his  deportment,  even  confining  ourselves  to 
the  attestations  of  his  enemies;  but  Mohammed  was  a  sink  of 
iniquity,  lust,  and  ambition,  if  we  listen  to  his  friends.  Jesus  em- 
ployed no  weapons  in  defence  of  his  mission  but  the  artillery  of 
reason  and  argument,  joined  to  the  impetuous  influence  of  stupen- 
dous miracles,  while  Mohammed  could  do  nothing  without  the 
tnergy  of  the  sword.  Christ  gave  the  world  a  system  of  doctrine! 
Mid  precepts,  the  belief  and  practice  of  which  must  make  men 


42  LIFE  OF  MOHAMMED. 

supremely  happy,  although  they  should  be  reduced  to  nothing 
at  death ;  while  the  doctrines  of  Mohammed  and  his  various  in- 
junctions can  yield  no  solid  comfort  to  a  rational  mind,  even 
in  this  life,  but  must  unquestionably  bring  them  to  everlasting  tor 
tnent,  if  there  is  a  state  of  being  beyond  the  present.  Ignorant 
and  uncultivated  as  the  Arabs  might  be  in  the  days  of  this  arch- 
deceiver,  they  could  never  be  so  completely  stupid  and  unac- 
quainted with  everything  which  a  God  must  require  from  hk 
creatures,  whether  relating  to  faith  or  manners,  as  their  acceptance 
of  his  system  plainly  indicated,  had  they  not  been  forced.  But  it 
is  impossible  to  conceive  how  men  should  refuse  to  be  pious,  benev- 
olent, and  just.  These  three  words  contain  an  epitome  of  the 
gospel,  and  therefore  to  embrace  it  with  the  sword  brandishing 
defiance,  would  not  be  half  so  astonishing  as  to  reject  it  without 
any  restraint.  But  this  contrast  is  too  laconic  to  reach  conviction 
to  every  mind,  which  renders  it  necessary  to  spread  out  the  lead- 
in^  ideas  in  the  subsequent  paragraphs. 

Before  a  man  can  deliberately  undertake  to  be  an  impostor,  he 
must  be  supremely  wicked,  entirely  .incapable  of  remorse  of  con- 
science, and  the  determined  enemy  of  everything  that  is  good. 
He  must  take  no  thought  of  the  provocation  given  to  the  Almighty 
by  such  a  step,  nor  of  the  probability  that  he  may  be  made  a 
standing  monument  of  the  divine  indignation.  The  truth  of  this 
assertion  requires  little  proof.  To  cheat  a  man  out  of  a  sum  of 
money,  or  of  anything  else  to  which  he  has  a  legal  title,  is,  by  the 
general  consent  of  mankind,  allowed  to  be  criminal.  To  extend 
the  scale,  and  attempt  to  cheat  thousands  in  a  similar  manner,  is  a 
still  higher  degree  of  guilt; 'but  to  endeavor  to  impose  upon  the 
whole  human  race,  and  cheat  them  out  of  the  everlasting  happi- 
ness of  their  precious  souls,  is  a  species  of  iniquity  for  which  no 
language  has  a  name.  It  is  a  thousand  times  worse  than  all  the 
murders  ever  committed,  and  a  forger)-  upon  Heaven  to  an  infinite 
amount.  Such  a  monster  was  Mohammed,  his  friends  being  judges, 
for  their  numerous  apologies  for  his  insatiable  lust  and  ungovern- 
able ambition  are  demonstrations  of  his  wickedness.  But  the 
character  of  Christ  was  holy  and  unspotted,  free  from  every  tinc- 
ture of  pride  or  ambition,  for  all  attempts  to  raise  him  to  regal 
magnificence  were  rejected  with  disdain.  He  went  about  contin- 
ually doing  good,  and  his  life  was  a  beautiful  transcript  of  that 
sublime  piety  and  virtue  which  he  inculcated  upon  others.  This 
all  his  first  enemies  have  allowed,  who  examined  his  life  with  un- 
common attention,  and  the  microscopic  eye  of  deism  has  not  yet 
found  a  blot  in  it.  Vaninus,  who  died  a  martyr  for  atheism,  hav 
ing  spent  much  time  in  the  investigation  of  the  character  of  Chris1 
to  see  if  he  could  discover  in  it  any  symptoms  of  an  ambition 
spirit,  or  a  thirst  for  secular  authority,  at  last  gave  up  the  search 
as  altogether  hopeless.  Reader,  whether  of  these  two,  think  you, 
wafl  the  prophet  of  God  ?  We  leave  you  to  answer  the  question 


LIFE  OF    MOHAMMED.  43 

for  we  would  not  insult  your  understanding  bj  answering  it  for 
you. 

The  whole  system  of  an  impostor  must  be  a  bundle  of  contradic- 
tions, for  what  he  commands  at  one  time,  he  will  find  it  necessary 
to  countermand  at  another.  Personal  ease,  safety,  and  grandeur 
being  the  only  motives  by  which  he  can  be  actuated,  the  current  of 
popiilar  opinion  must  frequently  be  humored,  and  the  stern  mandate 
of  to-day,  become  the  humble  recantation  of  to-morrow.  Thus  it 
fared  with  the  Koran  of  Mohammed,  in  which  he  was  often  under 
the  necessity  of  contradicting  himself,  either  to  obtain  something 
which  he  deemed  good,  or  to  avoid  some  serious  danger.  It  is  a 
motley  jumble  of  inconsistencies,  for  what  is  a  crime  in  one  chap- 
ter is  a  commendable  action  in  another.  His  admirers  have  laid 
their  heads  together  in  order  to  account  for  this,  while  a  person 
with  half  an  eye  must  perceive  it  to  be  unaccountable.  That  God 
should  inspire  a  man  to  call  vice  virtue,  and  virtue  vice,  is  the  most 
horrid  blasphemy  that  can  be  conceived.  But  the  system  of  the 
Lord  Jesus,  how  consistent  throughout !  All  its  doctrines  and  pre- 
cepts, its  promises,  threatenings,  and  encouragements  bear  upon  one 
point  —  the  manifestation  of  the  divine  glory,  and  the  substantial 
happiness  of  the  human  race.  While  the  Koran  makes  God  the 
author  of  sin,  and  exhibits  him  as  highly  pleased  with  every  species 
•>f  debauchery,  the  New  Testament  affirms  that  he  is  the  enemy 
of  all  unrighteousness,  and  must  be  angry  with  the  wicked  every 
lay.  Mohammed  says,  you  cannot  displease  Allah  by  vice  and 
wickedness ;  but  Christ  says,  there  is  no  possibility  of  obtaining  the 
divine  favor  and  friendship  in  a  course  of  impiety.  Finally,  Mo- 
hammed says,  men  shall  be  brutes  even  in  paradise,  where  wine 
and  sensuality  will  constitute  their  happiness;  but  Christ  says, 
nothing  but  absolute  purity  shall  dwell  in  heaven,  where  men  will 
be  delivered  from  all  manner  of  corruption,  pollution,  or  defilement, 
and  swallowed  up,  if  we  may  so  express  it,  in  the  boundless  ecsta- 
sies of  beatific  vision. 

An  impostor  must  be  incapable  of  producing  any  evidence  of  his 
pretended  mission,  sufficient  to  satisfy  a  rational  being,  because  he 
is  not  a  messenger  from  that  God  who  has  all  nature  at  his  com- 
mand. He  will  not  venture  to  make  the  experiment  of  working  a 
miracle,  being  conscious  to  himself  that  he  has  not  the  power. 
Mohammed  of  consequence  never  attempted  to  work  any,  but 
labored  to  remove  the  importunity  of  the  multitude  upon  that 
subject  by  the  shifts  and  evasions  which  have  been  already  men- 
tioned. But  Christ  made  no  shifts  or  evasions,  for  in  open  day,  with- 
out previous  preparation,  and  before  numbers  who  were  prejudiced 
»gainst  him,  he  performed  the  most  stupendous  miracles.  He  gave 
sight  to  those  who  were  born  blind,  raised  the  dead,  and  fed  five 
thousand  men  with  food  sufficient  for  fifty.  We  will  not  ask  the 
apostles,  we  will  not  ask  a  single  Christian  upon  earth  whether 
Jesus  ever  wrought  any  miracles;  but  we  will  ask  Celsus,  For 


44  LIFE  OF  MOHAMMED. 

phyry,  Tacitus,  or  Tryphon,  all  sworn  enemies  to  Christ,  and  they  wiB 
acknowledge  he  did.  Celsus,  it  is  true,  ascribed  them  to  the  power 
of  magic,  but  the  facts  themselves  he  never  presumed  to  controvert. 
It  waf  reserved  for  Celsus  to  discover  that  legerdemain  could  fill  a 
man's  belly,  and  is  an  assertion  which  must  make  a  deiot  blush,  a 
thing  not  very  easily  accomplished. 

But  it  is  said  that  miracles  are  not  capable  of  proof  from  human 
testimony,  and  therefore  they  cannot  be  believed.  As  unalterable 
experience,  says  Hume,  has  established  the  laws  of  nature,  the 
proof  against  a  miracle  from  the  very  nature  of  the  fact,  is  aa 
entire  as  any  argument  from  experience  can  possibly  be  imagined. 
That  may  readily  be  admitted,  and  yet  it  is  no  argument  at  ail 
against  the  truth  of  a  miracle.  Facts  are  immutably  the  same 
independent  of  our  conceptions  respecting  them.  A  miracle  is  an 
object  of  sense,  and  therefore  can  be  fully  attested  by  credible 
witnesses,  as  the  assassination  of  Julius  Caesar.  Whatever  is  pos- 
sible can  be  proved,  but  a  miracle,  says  Hume,  admits  of  none,  and 
is  rather  a  subject  of  derision  than  of  argument;  therefore,  in 
opposition  to  his  own  premises,  it  is  a  fact  in  the  nature  of  thinga 
impossible.  Perhaps  it  may  be  said  that  it  admits  of  proof  from 
the  testimony  of  sense ;  but  this  makes  nothing  for  the  cause  of 
infidelity.  All  mankind  have  as  good  a  right  as  Hume  had  to  de- 
mand satisfactory  evidence.  If  that  evidence  be  the  report  of  the 
senses,  it  is  easy  to  see  that  in  all  ages  and  nations  miracles  must 
be  wrought  to  gain  the  assent  of  men  ;  there  must  be  an  uniform 
suspension  of  the  laws  of  nature,  to  support  the  claim  of  any 
revelation.  But  according  to  his  own  account,  that  which  we  see 
happen  in  an  uniform  and  regular  manner,  is  not  miraculous  ;  and 
here  again  the  possibility  of  such  events  is  denied.  The  whole 
force  of  Hume's  artillery  against  miracles  is  included  in  the  follow- 
ing sentence,  which,  as  he  terms  it  himself,  is  a  maxim  worthy  of 
our  attention.  He  affirms  that  "  no  testimony  is  sufficient  to  estab- 
lish a  miracle,  unless  the  testimony  be  of  such  a  nature,  that  its  false- 
hood would  be  more  miraculous  than  the  fact  which  it  endeavors 
to  establish.  Then,  and  not  till  then,  can  it  pretend  to  command 
my  belief  or  opinion."  Although  we  hope  to  make  it  appear  that 
such  evidence  can  never  be  obtained,  and  would,  upon  his  hypoth- 
esis, destroy  itself;  yet  it  was  at  least  candid  to  tell  us  what  kind 
of  evidence  he  would  have  deemed  sufficient.  To  say  that  any 
event  can  be  more  miraculous  than  a  miracle,  is  not  the  language 
of  philosophy ;  for  although  every  miracle  requires  an  exertion  of 
power  above  human,  yet  we  cannot  say  that  one  miracle  isjnore 
miraculous  than  another  miracle,  because  it  may  require  a  superior 
degree  of  power.  That  the  testimony  of  any  person  or  persons  can 
be  miraculous,  is  physically  impossible.  The  supposition  of  false- 
hood, in  their  relation  of  facts,  maybe  truly  astonishing;  but  it 
can  never  be  called  a  suspension  of  the  laws  of  nature.  When  he 
laid  down  this  favorite  maxim  with  such  an  air  of  triumph,  he  cer- 


LIFE  OF  MOHAMMED.  44 

tainly  was  not  aware  that  it  would  destroy  itself.  The  force  of  th« 
evidence  which  he  allows  sufficient  to  establish  the  truth  of  a  relig- 
ious miracle,  IB  (I  e  only  circumstance  that  must  have  rendered  hu 
assent  impossible.  If  the  testimony  be  more  miraculous  than  th« 
fact  which  it  is  brought  to  support,  it  follows  from  his  own  con- 
cession that  a  miracle  must  be  believed.  But  were  that  testimony 
to  assume  a  miraculous  nature,  it  would  not  only  disprove  the 
miracle  it  designed  to  establish,  according  to  another  beloved 
position  of  his,  but  necessarily  destroy  its  own  authority,  abstractly 
considered.  The  whole  amount,  therefore,  of  this  wonderful  maxim 
is,  to  demand  an  impossibility  in  proof  of  what  is  possible,  and 
which,  though  it  could  be  granted,  would  be  an  everlasting  barrier 
against  the  belief  of  miracles,  even  upon  his  own  hypothesis.  It 
would  be  to  make  one  miracle  prove  another,  while  all  such  events, 
according  to  him,  are  subjects  of  derision,  not  of  argument.  Nay, 
it  would  be  to  prove  a  lesser  miracle  by  a  greater,  or  to  establish 
the  truth  of  what  is  highly  incredible,  by  something  that  is  more 
BO.  Admirable  logic  indeed !  We  cannot  help  being  grieved,  that 
the  man  who  could  write  the  matchless  history  of  England  should 
have  been  betrayed  into  the  vindication  of  such  ineffable  stupidity, 
merely  from  a  spirit  of  opposition  to  the  Christian  religion. 

Mohammed  declares  he  could  work  no  miracles,  but  Christ 
wrought  many,  his  enemies  being  judges.  They  are  objects  of 
sense,  and  consequently  as  capable  of  proof  as  any  matter  of  fact 
The  only  circumstance  which  can  affect  their  credibility  is  the 
suspicious  character  of  eye-witnesses ;  but  when  it  is  impossible 
that  they  could  be  deceived  themselves,  and  when  no  reason  car 
be  assigned  by  which  it  may  appear  that  they  meant  to  deceive 
others,  no  sophistry  upon  earth  can  prove  why  they  should  not  be 
credited. 

Finally,  no  man  who  resolves  to  commence  impostor  must  ven- 
ture to  exclaim  against  the  peculiar  foibles,  nor  even  the  daring 
vices  of  those  whom  he  means  to  delude.  This  would  be  to  rouse 
their  indignation  against  him,  to  pave  the  way  to  innumerable 
sufferings,  perhaps  to  death  itself,  and  give  the  finishing  stroke  to 
his  system  as  soon  as  it  is  formed.  Sensual  happiness,  grandeur, 
and  dominion,  being  the  only  objects  he  can  possibly  have  in  view 
by  endeavoring  to  delude  mankind,  and  thus  to  rob  God  of  his 
nght ;  he  will  study  their  humors  with  as  much  care  and  indefati- 
gable industry  as  men  can  study  the  sciences.  Poverty  and  con- 
tempt, persecution  and  death,  being  the  chief  objects  of  his  horror 
and  aversion,  he  will  shun  them  with  as  much  assiduity  as  the  jaw? 
of  a  lion.  As  he  designs  to  attain  the  unmolested,  the  unlimited 
gratification  of  his  appetites  and  passions  by  such  a  dreadful  step, 
he  will  be  extremely  cautious  how  he  censures.  All  these  things 
must  be  foreseen  by  a  deceiver,  in  the  above  manner  he  will  find 
it  necessary  to  act,  and  all  the  forementioned  dangers  he  must 
labor  to  avoid.  What  avails  his  scheme,  if  he  is  imprisoned  for 


46  LIFE  OF  MOHAMMED. 

life  or  put  to  death  ?  To  what  purpose  is  it  to  aim  at  supreme 
authority,  if  any  step  of  his  conduct  should  exclude  him  from  it 
forever  ?  These  things  were  well  understood,  and  artfully  man- 
aged by  Mohammed,  who  yielded  to  the  darling  passions  of  his 
countrymen,  and  denied  them  the  gratification  of  no  appetite 
which  they  were  determined  to  indulge.  Not  contented  with 
allowing  them  to  sin  here,  and  encourage  them  in  vices  to  which 
they  were  probably  strangers  before,  he  allowed  them  to  hope  for 
all  manner  of  sensuality  through  everlasting  ages.  But  Christ 
waged  perpetual  war  with  every  species  of  iniquity,  and  reproba- 
ted the  most  favorite  vices  of  the  greatest  personages  upon  earth. 
In  proportion  as  error  and  wickedness  became  popular,  and  con- 
•equently  when  it  was  dangerous  for  a  deceiver  to  meddle  with 
them,  he  increased  in  the  thunder  of  his  eloquence  and  force  of 
his  reasoning  against  them,  making  no  secret  of  the  terrible  ven- 
geance of  Almighty  God,  which  the  wretched  abettors  of  such  a 
cause  had  to  expect.  Amidst  innumerable  trials,  afflictions,  and 
persecutions,  he  pursued  impiety  with  a  steady  pace,  and  even  in 
the  certain  prospect  of  death  itself,  he  maintained  his  opposition 
to  the  commission  of  wickedness.  Instead  of  compromising  the 
matters  between  men's  preconceived  opinions  and  his  system,  he 
combated  every  argument  in  support  of  error  and  absurdity,  with 
a  resolute  firmness  which  nothing  could  intimidate.  By  a  candid 
examination  of  this  concise  contrast,  it  will  appear  manifest  that 
Christ  and  Mohammed  are  antipodes  to  each  other,  and  that  if 
the  one  of  them  be  a  deceiver,  it  is  absolutely  impossible  that  the 
other  can. 

It  is  extremely  difficult  in  some  cases  to  hate  wickedness,  with- 
out at  the  same  time  abhorring  its  perpetrator ;  but  if  an  historian 
is  not  capable  of  doing  so,  it  is  not  to  be  expected  that  he  will 
always  speak  the  truth.  To  admit  everything  against  Mohammed 
which  ignorance  or  malice  may  deem  it  proper  to  advance,  is  to 
deprive  ourselves  of  the  power  of  refuting  the  most  consummate 
nonsense  against  Christianity.  For  example,  Celsus  wishes  the 
world  to  believe  that  Christ  wrought  miracles  by  the  power  of 
magic  ;  but  who  in  his  senses  will  take  the  infidel's  word  for  this  V 
While  reason  declares  it  physically  impossible  to  fill  a  man's  belly 
by  legerdemain,  ten  thousand  ship-loads  of  such  a  man  as  Celsus 
may  affirm  it,  without  running  the  hazard  of  being  believed  by 
any. 

In  contemplating  the  wonderful  revolution  accomplished  by 
Mohammed,  the  inquisitive  mind  seems  not  altogether  satisfied 
with  its  ostensible  reasons.  If  capable  of  bringing  about  the  sub- 
jugation of  souls,  it  may  be  said  that  they  do  not  appear  adequate 
to  the  task  of  continuing  it  in  existence,  and  encouraging  its 
tpread.  It  must  be  granted  that  his  flattering  the  great,  and  brib- 
ing the  poor ;  his  indulgence  of  sensuality  upon  earth,  and  volup- 
tuous paradise  beyond  the  grave,  joined  to  the  irresistible  argument 


LIFE  OF  MOHAMMED.  47 

of  compulsion  or  force,  could  not  fail  to  overpower  for  a  little ; 
but  how  Las  even  the  energy  of  the  sword  kept  it  so  long  in  be- 
ing ?  An  eminent  personage  once  said  of  Christianity,  If  this 
work  be  of  men,  it  will  come  to  nothing,  but  if  it  be  of  God,  ye 
cann  n  overthrow  it.  No  man,  I  trust,  for  the  honor  of  his  own 
anden^nding,  will  ever  apply  this  to  the  religion  of  Mohammed, 
and  iulur  that  it  must  be  from  heaven,  as  it  has  continued  above  a 
thousand  years.  Such  an  inference  would  be  sophistical  and  ab- 
surd, li.  is  wholly  destitute  of  external  evidence,  as  we  have 
formerly  evinced,  and  it  contains  innumerable  internal  marks  of 
forgery  and  deception. 

If  this  inference  will  not  hold  good,  perhaps  it  may  be  said  that 
its  existence  upon  earth  for  so  long  a  period  is  totally  inexplica- 
ble. Men  have  been  as  securely  fettered  by  the  manacles  of  des- 
potism in  a  political,  as  the  Arabs  ever  were  in  a  spiritual  sense 
by  the  imposture  of  Mohammed,  and  yet  they  have  brought  about 
their  own  emancipation  in  defiance  of  opposition.  From  being 
the  abject  slaves  of  unlimited  power,  they  have  passed  to  a  state 
of  independence  like  a  shock  of  electricity.  Such  phenomena,  it 
must  be  granted,  have  been  beheld  in  the  political  world,  and  con- 
sequently it  is  logical  enough  to  conclude  that  a  similar  escape 
might  be  made  from  the  fangs  of  spiritual  despotism.  It  ought, 
uowever,  to  be  remembered,  that  men  are  seldom  so  much  con- 
cerned about  their  souls  as  their  bodies,  nor  so  much  taken  up 
with  how  they  shall  be  in  a  future  state,  as  how  they  shall  acquire 
ease,  honor,  and  independence  while  they  sojourn  upon  earth. 
Add  to  this,  that  if  conscience  can  be  kept  quiet,  and  an  unlimi- 
ted toleration  given  to  the  indulgence  of  their  favorite  passions  ; 
it  is  not  such  a  difficult  matter  as  at  first  sight  we  might  imagine, 
to  continue  them  in  chains.  Give  most  men  those  things  for  which 
corrupt  nature  has  a  strong  predilection,  and  you  may  make  them 
accede  to  any  religious  absurdity  you  think  proper  to  propose. 
The  cause  of  this  easy  credulity  in  religious  matters  is  very  obvi- 
ous, for  Gallic  like,  they  care  for  none  of  these  things.  While  it 
is  beyond  the  limits  of  the  human  understanding  to  say  at  present, 
whether  an  invasion  or  a  mental  revolution  will  ultimately  prove 
the  overthrow  of  the  fooleries  of  Mohammed,  we  would  add  to  the 
above  speculations,  that  it  is  allowed  to  flourish  in  the  course  of 
divine  providence,  for  the  following  reasons. 

The  Supreme  Being  often  permits  men  to  have  their  conscien- 
ces enslaved  by  spiritual  tyranny,  as  a  scourge  for  the  stupendous 
height  of  wickedness  at  which  they  have  arrived,  or  for  the  glaring 
abuse  of  favorable  opportunities  of  escaping  from  ignorance.  In- 
gratitude, negligence,  self-conceit,  and  profligacy  of  manners  forged 
Ihe  chains  of  delusion  by  which  the  Church  of  Rome  has  been  fet- 
tered for  so  many  centuries.  Had  Christians  highly  valued  and 
suitably  improved  the  blessings  of  the  everlasting  gospel,  we  had 
never  heard  of  that  many-headed  monster  who  usurped  tlie  place  oi 


48  LIFE  OF  MOHAMMED. 

God,  but  whose  horrid  dominion,  we  trust,  is  now  drawing  to  ita  end 
In  like  manner,  if  the  Arabs  and  others  had  consulted  reason  mow 
than  lust  and  a  desire  to  plunder,  the  dictates  of  conscience 
rather  than  the  hope  of  present  and  everlasting  sensuality,  their 
abandoned  prophet  would  have  fallen  the  unpitied  victim  of  hi§ 
own  impiety.  But  when  the  ignorance  of  mankind  is  not  purely 
invincible ;  when  they  continue  in  rebellion  against  God,  and  in 
the  indulgence  of  their  appetites,  contrary  to  the  light,  even  of 
reason  itself;  it  is  only  just  that  they  should  be  made  the  dupes  of 
the  greatest  villain.  This  accounts  for  the  present  ignorance  and 
barbarism  of  the  Africans,  as  well  as  the  infatuation  of  the  soni 
of  Ishmael. 

But  we  also  conceive  that  so  large  a  portion  of  the  globe  ii 
allowed  to  be  subjugated  by  the  forgery  of  Mohammed,  to  be  a 
standing  monument  of  the  divine  goodness  to  us,  and  of  the  terri- 
ble judgments  we  may  reasonably  dread,  if  we  do  not  improve 
our  blessings.  Thousands  among  us  are  almost  as  capable  of 
being  made  the  dupes  of  imposition  as  the  Arabians  were,  and 
surely  their  abuse  of  the  light  of  nature  was  not  so  ordinal  in 
the  sight  of  God,  as  our  total  indifference  about  the  gospel  of  hia 
Son.  We  may  therefore  be  left  to  be  cheated  out  of  our  reason 
by  some  dexterous  impostor,  while  others  growing  wise  by  the 
consequences  of  our  folly,  may  read  our  horrid  crimes  in  their 
tremendous  punishment.  It  is  needless  to  dissemble,  that  we  do 
not  deserve  the  divine  favors  we  enjoy,  which  are  equalled  by 
nothing  but  our  ingratitude,  and  of  consequence  they  may  be 
speedily  withdrawn.  Where  is  now  the  celestial  knowledge  once 
enjoyed  by  the  sable  natives  of  Africa's  burning  climes,  when  the 
immortal  Origen  preached  to  them  the  merits  of  a  Saviour  ?  Is  it 
fled,  without  leaving  a  trace  behind  that  it  once  was  there,  except 
in  the  faithful  page  of  history,  and  shall  not  we  tremble  ?  If  we 
are  at  present  as  enlightened  as  we  are  wicked,  let  us  not  forget 
that  we  were  barbarians  in  the  days  of  Julius  Caesar.  What  has 
been  our  fate  already  may  be  so  again,  which  ought  to  rouse  us  to 
a  sense  of  our  danger.  Let  the  miserable  condition  of  all  Mo- 
hammedan countries  inspire  us  with  gratitude  to  the  Almighty  for 
his  distinguishing  love,  and  make  us  study  to  avert  his  judgments 
oy  universal  reformation.  The  divine  permission  of  such  a  cheat 
speaks  a  bold  and  animated  language,  full  of  instruction  and  re- 
proof. If  we  have  such  a  lofty  opinion  of  our  own  penetration, 
and  the  wonderful  acuteness  of  our  reasoning  powers,  as  to  be 
persuaded  that  we  could  never  become  the  willing  supporters  of 
absurdity  and  fraud,  let  us  recollect  what  the  power  of  the  sword 
has  accomplished  already. 

If  a  mental  revolution  in  Mohammedan  countries  will  never  be 
able  to  accomplish  its  objects,  as  it  has  to  contend  with  the  supe- 
rior power  of  tyranny  in  arms,  we  may  safely  conclude  that  a 
formidable  invasion  will  bury  in  oblivion  the  blasphemy  of  th« 


LIFE  OF   MOHAMMED.  41 

Koran,  and  give  millions  the  opportunity  of  thinking  for  them- 
lelves. 

Although  we  had  never  heard  of  the  character  of  Mohammed ; 
of  his  debauchery,  injustice,  cruelty,  and  cunning,  it  would  be  no 
difficult  matter  to  demonstrate  the  Koran  to  be  a  forgery  from  its 
internal  structure.  Could  we  suppose  it  possible  that  he  ever 
wrought  any  miracles,  —  at  least  what  might  pass  for  such  in  the 
judgment  01  an  ignorant  rabble, — they  behooved  it  to  be  considered 
as  absolute  delusion,  arising  from  the  agency  of  the  devil,  or  the 
power  of  magic.  When  reason  analyzes  the  Arabian  Bible,  and 
examines  its  contents  chapter  by  chapter,  with  the  impartiality  of 
an  independent  judge,  she  needs  not  the  want  of  miracles  to  pro- 
nounce it  a  fabrication.  By  this  noble  faculty  alone  are  we  quali- 
fied to  discriminate  between  right  and  wrong,  truth  and  falsehood, 
or  what  is  agreeable  to,  or  incompatible  with,  the  eternal  reason 
and  fitness  of  things.  The  book,  therefore,  which  justifies  a  plu- 
rality of  wives,  breaks  down  the  barriers  that  separate  virtue  and 
vice,  sanctions  robbery  and  plunder,  and  offers  an  apology  for 
every  species  of  murder,  cannot  be  from  God,  and  neither  angel, 
man  nor  devil,  could  convince  us  of  the  reverse. 

But  independent  of  all  external  evidence,  whether  arising  from 
miracles,  or  the  accomplishment  of  prophecy,  it  is  easy  to  demon- 
strate the  divine  origin  of  the  New  Testament  from  its  internal 
structure.  It  contains,  in  addition  to  anything  mentioned  before, 
some  doctrines  which  are  said  to  be  beyond  the  reach  of  the  hu- 
man understanding,  and  therefore  the  conclusion  of  infidelity  is, 
that  it  cannot  be  from  God.  The  very  opposite  is  the  fair  and 
rational  inference,  for  how  in  the  name  of  wonder  can  it  be  a  for- 
gery, when  it  is  allowed  in  some  respects  to  be  beyond  our  reach, 
even  after  it  is  given  to  the  world  ?  Had  it  been  in  all  respects 
as  plain  as  the  relation  of  two  and  two  to  four,  we  should  nave 
more  easily  believed  that  God  was  not  its  author,  for  in  all  his 
other  works  of  creation  and  providence  we  find  mysteries  in 
abundance.  Mysteries  in  the  gospel,  therefore,  are  only  consistent 
with  analogy,  and  proclaim  their  author  to  be  the  omnipotent 
Jehovah.  But  it  is  affirmed  that  our  future  happiness  is  not 
affected  by  the  mysteries  of  creation,  since  we  may  enjoy  the 
favor  of  God  forever,  though  we  should  not  comprehend  even  one 
among  a  thousand.  So  do  we  assert  of  the  gospel,  that  such 
things  as  transcend  the  grasp  of  all  human  research  are  never 
made  the  conditions  of  eternal  life,  for  a  man  may  be  happy 
through  everlasting  ages,  according  to  the  solemn  declarations  of 
the  word  of  God,  without  comprehending  such  doctrines  as  are 
professedly  mysterious.  Faith  and  repentance  are  the  condition* 
on  which  it  offers  mankind  the  pardon  of  sin,  the  protection  of 
the  Almighty  through  the  whole  career  of  life,  and  never-ending 
felicity  beyond  death  and  the  grave.  It  contains  nothing  degrad 
ing  to  the  author  of  our  being,  incompatible  with  historical  facts, 


50  LIFE  OF  MOHAMMED. 

or  the  peace,  good  order,  and  happiness  of  society ;  but  recom> 
mends  and  enforces  the  idea  of  subordination,  which  is  the  deter- 
mined enemy  of  anarchy  and  confusion.  In  short,  it  proposes  to 
make  man  in  all  respects  what  dispassionate  reason  declares  he 
ought  to  be,  and  would,  were  its  dictates  and  precepts  universally 
obeyed,  make  this  sublunary  state  a  lively  emblem  of  heaven. 
Paradise  would  then  be  restored,  and  every  fabulous  description 
of  the  golden  age  by  the  poets  of  antiquity,  be  completely 
verified. 

We  admire  the  blessings  we  enjoy,  and  perhaps  we  do  not  ad- 
mire in  vain,  but  can  you  call  the  best  of  them  any  other  than  per- 
petual remembrancers  of  human  folly  and  wickedness  ?  Even  the 
grand  palladium  of  English  liberty,  trial  by  jury,  reminds  us  that  we 
are  sinners,  whereas  if  the  gospel  were  universally  believed,  such 
trials  would  be  a  palpable  absurdity,  and  there  would  soon  be  no 
words  for  judge,  advocate,  or  witness,  in  the  whole  compass  of  hu- 
man language.  It  is  man's  ignorance  of  the  gospel,  and  contempt 
of  its  moral  requisition,  that  have  multiplied  the  crimes  in  the 
catalogue  of  human  wickedness.  Men  who  deny  this  deduce 
their  ideas  from  the  superstition,  blasphemy,  and  nonsense,  which 
priestcraft  has  attached  to  Christianity,  and  which  have  made  it 
assume  the  appearance  of  a  monster,  as  unlike  the  religion  of  the 
gospel,  as  light  is  to  darkness.  Is  it  then  possible  that  the  religion 
of  Mohammed  can  continue  much  longer,  as  it  is  in  every  partic- 
ular the  very  reverse  of  Christianity ;  or  can  the  glorious  gospel 
of  the  Son  of  God  be  always  confined  to  a  small  portion  of  the 
*lobe  !  No  individual  nor  combination  of  monsters,  however 
formidable,  shall  be  able  to  preserve  the  imposture  of  Mohammed 
from  everlasting  destruction,  nor  all  the  infidels  in  the  universe, 
•et  boundaries  to  the  kingdom  of  the  great  Messiah, 


THB 

KORAN; 

OOMMOSLT    CAUSED 

THE    ALCORAN    OF    MOHAMMED; 

fRANSLATFD  IXTO  ENGLISH  IMMEDIATELY  FROM  THE  OKIOt 
NAL  ARABIC; 

BY  GEORGE  SALE,  GENT. 
1784. 

"  B*ll*  MM  doetrtn*  art.  qnjB  non  allquid  Teri  permlaeeat." 

Auaosrw.   QiMtf    Swtmg.  1.  t.  0   10 


THE    KORANJ 


Ohmp  Pag* 

1.  Intitled,  The  Preface,  or  Introduction;  containing  7  verses,     57 

2.  Intitled,  The  Cow ;  containing  286  verses, 57 

8.    Intitled,  The    Family    of  Imran ;    containing    200    (199) 

verses, 86 

4.    Intitled,  Women  ;  containing  175  verses, 102 

6.  Intitled,  The  Table ;  containing  120  verses, 119 

8.  Intitled,  Cattle  (Flocks) ;  containing  166  verses,      .    .         .  183 

7.  Intitled,  Al  Araf ;  containing  206  (205)  verses,     ....    148 

8.  Intitled,  The  Spoils ;  containing  76  verses, 165 

9.  Intitled,  The  Declaration  of  Immunity  ( Conversion) ;   con- 

taining 139  (130)  verses, 171 

19.     Intitled.  Jonas ;  containing  109  verses, 183 

11.  Intitled,  Hud ;  containing  123  verses, 192 

12.  Intitled,  Joseph ;  containing  111  verses, 202 

18.    Intitled,  Thunder;  containing  43  verses, 211 

14.    Intitled,  Abraham  ;  containing  52  verses, 215 

16.    Intitled,  Al  Hejr;  containing  99  (100)  verses, 220 

16.  Intitled,  The  Bee  (The  Bees) ;  containing  128  verses,     .    .  224 

17.  Intitled,  The  Night  Journey;  containing  110  (111)  verses,    284 

18.  Intitled,  The  Cave;  containing  111  (110)  verses,  ....  242 

19.  Intitled,  Mary  ;  containing  80  (98)  verses, 250 

20.  Intitled,  T.  H.;  containing  134  (185)  verses, 255 

21.  Intitled,  The  Prophets;  containing  112  verses,     ....    268 

22.  Intitled,  The  Pilgrimage  ;  containing  78  verses,     ....  270 

23.  Intitled,  The  True  Believers ;  containing  118  verses,    .     .    276 

1  The  titles  ami  flgnrM  within  pareathaMi  art  thoM  which  arc  given  in  tb* 
tttion  by  SATA»T. 


54  CONTENTS. 

Jhtp.  P»*» 

24.  In  titled,  Light ;  containing  74  (64)  vc-rses, 282 

25.  Intitled,  Al  Forkan  ( The  Koran) ;  containing  77  Tenet,     .    288 

26.  Intitled,  The  Poets;  containing  227  (228)  verses,  .     .     .    .  298 

27.  Intitled,  The  Ant;  containing  93  (95)  yerses, 800 

28.  Intitled,  The    Story   (The    History);    containing    87    (88,v 

verses, 806 

29.  Intitled,  The  Spider ;  containing  69  verses, 818 

80.  Intitled,  The  Greeks ;  containing  60  verses, 818 

81 ,  Intitled,  Lokman  ;  containing  34  verses, 828 

62.     Intitled,  Adoration ;  containing  29  (30)  verses, 326 

88  Intitled,  The  Confederates  ( The  Conspirators) ;   containing 

78  verses, 828 

94.    Intitled,  Saba ;  containing  54  verses, 834 

85.  Intitled,  The  Creator  ( The  Angels) ;   containing  46  verses,  839 

86.  Intitled,  Y.  S.  (I.  S.);  containing  83  verses, 343 

87.  Intitled,  Those  who  rank  themselves  in  Order  ( The  Classes} ; 

containing  182  verses, 847 

88.  Intitled,  S.  ;  containing  86  (88)  verses, 362 

89.  Intitled,  The  Troops ;  containing  76  verses, 866 

40.  Intitled,  The  True  Believer ;  containing  85  verses,  .     .     .     362 

41.  Intitled,  Are  distinctly  explained   (The  Explanation);  con- 

taining 54  (55)  verses, 369 

42.  Intitled,  Consultation  ( T7ie  Council) ;  containing  63  verses,     378 
48.     Intitled,  The   Ornaments  of  Gold   (Dress) ;   containing  89 

verses, 877 

44.  Intitled,  Smoke ;  containing  57  (59)  verses, 382 

45.  Intitled,  The  Kneeling;  containing  36  verses, 384 

46.  Intitled,  Al  Ahkaf ;  containing  35  verses, 887 

47.  Intitled,  Mohammed  (The  Battle) ;  containing  38  (40)  verses,  390 

48.  Intitled,  The  Victory ;  containing  29  verses, 893 

49.  Intitled,  The  Inner  Apartments  (The  Sanctuary);  contain- 

ing 18  verses, 896 

60.  Intitled,  K. ;  containing  45  verses, 898 

61.  Intitled,  The  Dispersing  (The  Breath  of  the  Wind*) ;  con- 

taining 60  verses, 400 

62.  Intitled,  The  Mountain ;  containing  48  (49)  verses,     .    .    .  408 

68.    Intitled,  The  Star ;  containing  61  verses, 405 

64.     Intitled,  The  Moon  ;  containing  55  verses, 407 

55.    Intitled,  The  Merciful ;  containing  78  verses, 409 

66.     Intitled,  The  Inevitable   ( The    Judgment) ;    containing   99 

(96)  verses, .     .  412 

57      Intitled,  Iron  ;  containing  29  verses,   .,,..,..    414 


CONTENTS.  55 


(8.     Intitled,  She   who   disputed   (The    Complaint) ;    containing 

22  verses, 417 

59  Intitled,  The  Emigration  (The  Assembly);  containing  24 

(25)  yerses, 420 

(JO,  Intitled,  She  who  is  tried  (The  Proof);  containing  18 

Yerses, 422 

11.  Intitled,  Battle  Array  (The  Array) ;  containing  14  verses,  424 
62.  Intitled,  The  Assembly  (Friday) ;  containing  11  verses,  .  426 
68.  Intitled,  The  Hypocrites  (The  Impious);  containing  11 

verses, 427 

64.  Intitled,  Mutual  Deceit  (Knavery) ;  containing  18  verse*,  428 
66.  Intitled,  Divorce  ;  containing  12  verses, 429 

66.  Intitled,  Prohibition  ;  containing  12  verses, 481 

67.  Intitled,  The  Kingdom  ;  containing  30  verses,      ....    488 

68.  Intitled,  The  Pen ;  containing  52  verses, 486 

69.  Intitled,  The  Infallible  ( The  Inevitable  Day) ;  containing  52 

verses, 487 

70.  Intitled,  The  Steps  ( The  Classes  or  The  Orders) ;  containing 

44  verses, 438 

71.  Intitled,  Noah ;  containing  28  verses, 440 

72.  Intitled,  The  Genii  ;  containing  28  verses, 441 

78.     Intitled,  The  Wrapped  up  ( The  Prophet  dothed  in  his  Dress) ; 

containing  19  V20)  verses, 448 

74.  Intitled,  The  Covered  (The  Mantle) ;  containing  65  verses,  444 
76.  Intitled,  The  Resurrection  ;  containing  40  verses, ....  446 

76.  Intitled,  Man  ;  containing  31  (80)  verses, 447 

77.  Intitled,  Those  which  are  sent  (The  Messengers) ;  contain- 

ing 50  verses, ...  448 

78.  Intitled,  The  News   ( The  Important  News) ;  containing  40 

(41)  verses, 460 

79  Intitled,  Those  who  tear  forth  (The  Ministers  of  Vengeance) ; 

containing  46  (47)  verses, 461 

80  Intitled,  He  Frowned  ( The  Frowning  Brow) ;  containing  43 

verses. 468 

81.  Intitled,  The  Folding  up  (The  Darkness);  containing  29 

(28)  ver*^,          464 

82.  Intitled,  The  Cleaving  asunder  (The  Breaking) ;  containing 

19  verses, 464 

88.    Intitled,  Those  who  give  short  Measure  or  Weight  (The 

Unjust  Measure) ;  containing  86  verses, 461 

14     Intitled,  The  Rending  in  sunder  ( Tht  Opening) ;  contain- 
ing 28  (26)  verses,     ....  454 


56  CONTENTS. 

Oh»p  Pa«t 

85.  Intitled,  The  Celestial  Signs ;  containing  22  verses,      .       457 

86.  Intitled,  The  Star  which  appeareth  by  Night  (The  Aoctur- 

nal  Star)  ;  containing  17  verses, 468 

87.  Intitled,  The  Most  High ;  containing  19  verses,  ....  469 

88.  Intitled,  The  Overwhelming  ( The  Gloomy  Veil) ;  contain- 

ing 26  (27)  verses, 469 

89.  Intitled,  The  Daybreak ;  containing  80  verses,     ....  460 

90.  Intitled,  The  Territory  (The  City)  ;  containing  20  verses,  461 
91      Intitled,  The  Sun;  containing  16  (16)  verses,      ....  462 

92,    Intitled,  The  Night ;  containing  21  verses, 462 

98.     Intitled,  The  Brightness  ( The  Sun  in  his  Meridian) ;  con- 
taining 11  verses, 468 

94.     Intitled,  Have  we  not  Opened  ( The  Expanding) ;  contain- 

8  verses, 464 

96.     Intitled,  The  Fig  ( The  Fig-tree)  ;  containing  8  verses  .     .     464 

96.  Intitled,  Congealed  Blood  (The  Union  of  the  Sexes);  con- 

taining 19  verses, 464 

97.  Intitled,  Al  Kadr   ( The  Celebrated  Night) ;   containing    6 

verses, 465 

98.  Intitled,  The  Evidence ;  containing  8  verses, 465 

99.  Intitled,  The  Earthquake  ;  containing  8  verses  ....    466 

100.  Intitled,  The  War  Horses  which  run  swiftly  (The  Cours- 

ers) ;  containing  11  verses, 467 

101.  Intitled,  The  Striking  (The  Day  of  Calamities) ;  containing 

10  (8)  verses, 467 

102.  Intitled,  The  Emulous  Desire  of  Multiplying  (The  Love  of 

Gain) ;  containing  8  verses, 468 

108.     Intitled,  The  Afternoon  ;  containing  8  verses,     ....    468 

104.  Intitled,  The  Slanderer ;  containing  9  verses, 468 

105.  Intitled,  The  Elephant ;  containing  6  verses,      ....    469 

106.  Intitled,  Koreish  ( The  Koreishites) ;  containing  4  verses,    .  469 

107.  Intitled,  Necessaries  (The  Succoring  Hand)  ;  containing  7 

verses, 470 

108.  Intitled,  Al  Cawthar ;  containing  8  verses,  ......  470 

109.  Intitled,  The  Unbelievers  ;  containing  6  verses,      .     .    .  470 

110.  Intitled,  Assistance  ;  containing  8  verses, 471 

111.  Intitled,  Abu  Laheb  ;  containing  6  versea, 471 

112.  Intitled,  The  Declaration  of  God's  Unity   ( Unity) ;  con- 

taining 4  verses, 471 

118.     Intitled,  The  Daybreak  (The  God  of  Morning) ;  containing 

5  verses, 472 

1 14.    Intitled,  Men ;  containing  6  verses, 473 

Selected  Notes, 473 

Index,      .  .,,,,,,,,,     537 


AL  KORAN. 


CHAPTER  L 

IMTITLED,   THE    PREFACE,    OB    INTRODUCTION  ;    KEVKALM 
AT    MECCA. 

IV   THE   NAME    OF   THE   HOST    MERCIFUL   GOD 

PRAISE  be  to  GOD,  the  LORD  of  all  creatures ;  the  most 
merciful,  the  king  of  the  day  of  judgment.  Thee  do  we 
worship,  and  of  thee  do  we  beg  assistance.  Direct  us  in 
the  right  way,  in  the  way  of  those  to  whom  thou  hast  been 
gracious ;  not  of  those  against  whom  thou  art  incensed,  nor 
of  those  who  go  astray. 


CHAPTER  H. 

DTTITLED,  THE   COW ;   REVEALED   PARTLY  AT   MECCA,  AJTD 
PARTLY   AT   MEDINA. 

IK    THE    NAME    OF    THE    MOST    MEHCIFUL    GOD. 

A.  L.  M.1  There  is  no  doubt  in  this  book ;  it  it  a  di- 
rection to  the  pious,  who  believe  in  the  mysteries  of  faith, 

1  There  are  twenty-nine  chapters  in  the  Koran,  •which  have  this  peculiar- 
ity —  that  they  begin  with  certain  letters  of  the  alphabet.  Some  with  a 
single  one,  others  with  more.  These  letters  the  Mohammedans  believe  to 
De  peculiar  marks  of  the  Koran,  and  to  conceal  several  profound  mysteries 
—  the  certain  understanding  of  which,  the  more  intelligent  confess,  has  nol 
oeen  communicated  to  any  mortal,  the  prophet  only  excepted. 

'  *  For  all  explanatory  notes  see  Appendix,  page  473. 


SB  AL   KORAJ*. 

M  whoohj^fi^yg  thp  appointed  times  of  prayer,  and  distribute 
it  out  of  what  we  have  bestowed  on  them,  and  who  be- 
;e  in  that  revelation  which  hath  been  sent  down  unto  thee 
/  and  that  which  hath  been  sent  down  unto  the  prophett 
4+  before  thee,  and  have  firm  assurance  »**  j||('  Ufo  tft  rnmr  : 
*  these  are  directed  by  their  LORD,  and  they  shall  prosper. 
As  for  the  unbelievers,  it  will  be  equal  to  them  whether 
thou  admonish  them,  or  do  not  admonish  them  ;  they  will 
not  believe.  GOD  hath  sealed  up  their  hearts  and  their 
hearing ;  a  dimness  covereth  their  sight,  and  they  shall  suf- 
fer a  grievous  punishment.  There  are  some  who  say,  We 
believe  in  GOD,  and  the  last  day  ;  but  are  not  really  be- 
lievers :  they  seek  to  deceive  GOD,  and  those  who  do  be- 
lieve, but  they  deceive  themselves  only,  and  are  not  sensible 
thereof.  There  is  an  infirmity  in  their  hearts,  and  GOD 
hath  increased  that  infirmity  ;  and  they  shall  suffer  a  most 
painful  punishment,  because  they  have  disbelieved.  When 
one  saith  unto  them,  Act  not  corruptly  in  the  earth ;  they 
reply,  Verily  we  are  men  of  integrity.  Are  not  they  them- 
selves corrupt  doers  ?  but  they  are  not  sensible  thereof. 
And  when  one  saith  unto  them,  Believe  ye  as  others  be 
lieve ;  they  answer,  Shall  we  believe  as  fools  believe  ?  Are 
not  they  themselves  fools?  but  they  know  it  not.  When 
they  meet  those  who  believe,  they  say,  We  do  believe :  but 
when  they  retire  privately  to  their  devils,  they  say,  We 
really  hold  with  you,  and  only  mock  at  those  people :  GOD 
shall  mock  at  them,  and  continue  them  in  their  impiety 
they  shall  wander  in  confusion.  There  are  the  men  who 
have  purchased  error  at  the  price  of  true  direction  :  but 
their  traffic  hath  not  been  gainful,  neither  have  they  been 
rightly  directed.  They  are  like  unto  one  who  kindleth  a 
fire,  and  when  it  hath  enlightened  all  around  him,  GOD 
taketh  away  their  light  and  leaveth  them  in  darkness,  they 
shall  not  see  ;  they  are  deaf,  dumb,  and  blind,  therefore  will 
they  not  repent.1  Or  like  a  stormy  cloud  from  heaven, 
fraught  with  darkness,  thunder,  and  lightning,  they  put  their 
fingers  in  their  ears  because  of  the  noise  of  the  thunder, 
for  fear  of  death ;  GOD  encompasseth  the  infidels :  the 
lightning  wanteth  but  little  of  taking  away  their  sight ;  so 
flften  as  it  enlighteneth  them,  they  walk  therein,  but  when 
darkness  cometh  on  them,  they  stand  still ;  and  if  GOD  »o 
pleased,  he  would  certainly  deprive  them  of  their  hearing 


AL  KORAN.  59 

and  their  sight,  for  GOD  is  almighty.1  O  men  of  Mecca, 
serve  your  LORD  who  hath  created  you,  and  those  who 
have  been  before  you :  perad venture  ye  will  fear  him ; 
who  hath  spread  the  earth  as  a  bed  for  you,  and  the  heaven 
as  a  covering,  and  hath  caused  water  to  descend  from 
heaven,  and  thereby  produced  fruits  for  your  sustenance. 
Set  not  up  therefore  any  equals  unto  GOD,  against  your 
own  knowledge.  If  ye  be  in  doubt  concerning  that  revela- 
tion which  we  have  sent  down  unto  our  servant,  produce  a 
chapter  like  unto  it,  and  call  upon  your  witnesses  besides 
GOD,  if  ye  say  truth.  But  if  ye  do  it  not,  nor  shall  ever 
be  able  to  do  it ;  justly  fear  the  fire  whose  fuel  is  men  and 
•tones,  prepared  for  the  unbelievers.  But  bear  good  tidings 
unto  those  who  believe,  and  do  good  works,  that  they  shall 
have  gardens  watered  by  rivers ;  so  often  as  they  eat  of 
the  fruit  thereof  for  sustenance,  they  shall  say,  this  is  what 
we  have  formerly  eaten  of;  and  they  shall  be  supplied 
with  several  sorts  of  fruit  having  a  mutual  resemblance  to 
one  another.  There  shall  they  enjoy  wives  subject  to  no 
impurity,  and  there  shall  they  continue  forever.  More- 
over, GOD  will  not  be  ashamed  to  propound  in  a  parable 
a  gnat,  or  even  a  more  despicable  thing :  for  they  who  be- 
lieve will  know  it  to  be  the  truth  from  their  LORD  ;  but  the 
unbelivers  will  say,  What  meaneth  GOD  by  this  parable  ? 
he  will  thereby  mislead  many,  and  will  direct  many  thereby : 
but  he  will  not  mislead  any  thereby,  except  the  transgressors, 
who  make  void  the  covenant  of  GOD  after  the  establishing 
thereof,  and  cut  in  sunder  that  which  GOD  hath  commanded 
to  be  joined,  and  act  corruptly  in  the  earth ;  they  shall 
perish.  How  is  it  that  ye  believe  not  in  GOD  ?  Since  ye 
were  dead,  and  he  gave  you  life  ;  he  will  hereafter  cause 
you  to  die,  and  will  again  restore  you  to  life ;  then  shall 
ye  return  unto  him.  It  is  he  who  hath  created  for  you 
whatsoever  is  on  earth,  and  then  set  his  mind  to  the  cre- 
ation of  heaven,  and  formed  it  into  seven  heavens ;  he 
knoweth  all  things.  When  thy  LORD  said  unto  the  angels, 
I  am  going  to  place  a  substitute  on  earth ;  they  said,  Wilt 
tiiou  place  there  one  who  will  do  evil  therein,  and  shed 
blood  ?  but  we  celebrate  thy  praise,  and  sanctify  thee.3  GOD 
answered,  Verily  I  know  that  which  ye  know  not  ;  and  he 
taught  Adam  the  names  of  all  things,  and  then  proposed 
them  to  the  angels,  and  said,  Declare  unto  me  the  names 


60  AL   KORAN. 

of  these  things  if  ye  say  truth.  They  answered,  Praise  be 
unto  thee;  we  have  no  knowledge  but  what  thou  teachest 
us,  for  thou  art  knowing  and  wise.  GOD  said,  0  Adam, 
tell  them  their  names.  And  when  he  had  told  them  their 
names,  GOD  said,  Did  I  not  tell  you  that  I  know  the  secrets 
of  heaven  and  earth,  and  know  that  which  ye  discover,  and 
that  which  ye  conceal  P1  And  when  we  said  unto  the  angels, 
Worship  Adam  ;  they  all  worshipped  him,  except  Eblis,  who 
refused,  and  was  puffed  up  with  pride,  and  became  of  the 
number  of  unbelievers.  And  we  said,  O  Adam,  dwell  thou 
and  thy  wife  in  the  garden,  and  eat  of  the  fruit  thereof 
plentifully  wherever  ye  will ;  but  approach  not  this  tree, 
lest  ye  become  of  the  number  of  the  transgressors.  But 
Satan  caused  them  to  forfeit  paradise,  and  turned  them  out 
of  the  state  of  happiness  wherein  they  had  been ;  where- 
upon we  said,  Get  ye  down,  the  one  of  you  an  enemy  unto 
the  other;  and  there  shall  be  a  dwelling-place  for  you  on 
earth,  and  a  provision  for  a  season.2  And  Adam  learned 
words  of  prayer  from  his  LORD,  and  GOD  turned  unto  him, 
for  he  is  easy  to  be  reconciled  and  merciful.  We  said,  Get 
ye  all  down  from  hence  ;  hereafter  shall  there  come  unto 
you  a  direction  from  me,  and  whoever  shall  follow  my  direc- 
tion, on  them  shall  no  fear  come,  neither  shall  they  be  griev- 
ed ;  but  they  who  shall  be  unbelievers,  and  accuse  our 
signs  of  falsehood,  they  shall  be  the  companions  of  hell  fire, 
therein  shall  they  remain  forever.  O  children  of  Israel, 
remember  my  favor  wherewith  I  have  favored  you  ;  and 
psrform  your  covenant  with  me,  and  I  will  perform  my  cov- 
enant with  you  ;  and  revere  me :  and  believe  in  the  revela- 
tion which  I  have  sent  down,  confirming  that  which  is  with 
you,  and  be  not  the  first  who  believe  not  therein,  neither 
exchange  my  signs  for  a  small  price  ;  and  fear  me.  Clothe 
not  the  truth  with  vanity,  neither  conceal  the  truth  against 
your  own  knowledge ;  observe  the  stated  times  of  prayer, 
and  pay  your  legal  alms,  and  bow  down  yourselves  with 
those  who  bow  down.  Will  ye  command  men  to  do  jus- 
tice, and  forget  your  own  souls  ?  yet  ye  read  the  book  of 
the  law :  do  ye  not  therefore  understand  ?  Ask  help  with 
perseverance  and  prayer;  this  indeed  is  grievous  unless  to 
the  humble,  who  seriously  think  they  shall  meet  their  LORD; 
and  that  to  him  they  shall  return.  O  children  of  Israel,  re- 
member my  favor  wherewith  I  have  favored  you,  and  that 


AL    KORAN.  61 

I  have  preferred  you  above  all  nations ;  dread  the  day 
wherein  one  soul  shall  not  make  satisfaction  for  another  soul, 
neither  shall  any  intercession  be  accepted  from  them,  nor 
shall  any  compensation  be  received,  neither  shall  they  be 
helped.  Remember  when  we  delivered  you  from  the  people 
of  Pharaoh,  who  grievously  oppressed  you,  they  slew  your 
male  children,  and  let  your  females  live  :  therein  was  a  great 
trial  from  your  LORD.  And  when  we  divided  the  sea  for 
you  and  delivered  you,  and  drowned  Pharaoh's  people  while 
ye  looked  on.  And  when  we  treated  with  Moses  forty 
nights ;  then  ye  took  the  calf  for  your  God,  and  did  evil ; 
yet  afterwards  we  forgave  you,  that  peradventure  ye  might 
give  thanks.  And  when  we  gave  Moses  the  book  of  the 
law,  and  the  distinction  between  good  and  evil,  that  perad- 
venture ye  might  be  directed.  And  when  Moses  said  unto 
his  people,  O  my  people,  verily  ye  have  injured  your  own 
souls,  by  your  taking  the  calf  for  your  God;  therefore  be 
turned  unto  your  Creator,  and  slay  those  among  you  who 
have  been  guilty  of  that  crime  ;  this  will  be  better  for  you  in 
the  sight  of  your  Creator:  and  thereupon  he  turned  unto 
you,  for  he  is  easy  to  be  reconciled,  and  merciful.  And 
when  ye  said,  O  Moses,  we  will  not  believe  thee,  until  we 
see  GOD  manifestly ;  therefore  a  punishment  came  upot 
you,  while  ye  looked  on ;  then  we  raised  you  to  life  after 
ye  had  been  dead,  that  peradventure  ye  might  give  thanks. 
And  we  caused  clouds  to  overshadow  you,  and  manna  and 
quails  to  descend  upon  you,  saying,  Eat  of  the  good  things 
which  we  have  given  you  for  food  :  and  they  injured  not  us, 
but  injured  their  own  souls.  And  when  we  said,  Enter  into 
this  city,  and  eat  of  the  provisions  thereof  plentifully  as  ye 
will ;  and  enter  the  gate  worshipping,  and  say,  Forgiveness  I 
we  will  pardon  you  your  sins,  and  give  increase  unto  the 
well-doers.  But  the  ungodly  changed  the  expression  into  an- 
other, different  from  what  had  been  spoken  unto  them;  and 
we  sent  down  upon  the  ungodly  indignation  from  heaven, 
because  they  had  transgressed.  And  when  Moses  asked 
drink  for  his  people,  we  said,  Strike  the  rock  with  thy  rod ; 
and  there  gushed  thereout  twelve  fountains  according  to  the 
number  of  the  tribes,  and  all  men  knew  their  respective  drink- 
ing-place.1  Eat  and  drink  of  the  bounty  of  GOD,  and  com- 
mit not  evil  on  the  earth,  acting  unjustly.  And  when  y« 
«aid,  0  Moses,  we  will  by  no  means  be  satisfied  with  one 


62  AL   KORAN. 

kind  of  food ;  pray  unto  thy  LORD  therefore  for  us,  that 
he  would  produce  for  us  of  that  which  the  earth  bringeth 
forth,  herbs  and  cucumbers,  and  garlic,  and  lentils,  and 
onions  ;  Moses  answered,  Will  ye  exchange  that  which  ia 
better,  for  that  which  is  worse  ?  Get  ye  down  into  Egypt, 
for  there  shall  ye  find  what  ye  desire :  and  they  were  smitten 
with  vileness  and  misery,  and  drew  on  themselves  indigna- 
tion from  GOD.  This  they  suffered,  because  they  believed 
not  in  the  signs  of  GOD,  and  killed  the  prophets  unjustly ; 
this,  because  they  rebelled  and  transgressed.  Surely  those 
who  believe,  and  those  who  Judaize,  and  Christians,  and  Sa- 
bians,  whoever  believeth  in  GOD,  and  the  last  day,  and  doth 
that  which  is  right,  they  shall  have  their  reward  with  their 
LORD  ;  there  shatt  come  no  fear  on  them,  neither  shall  they 
be  grieved.  Gall  to  mind  also  when  we  accepted  your  cov- 
enant, and  lifted  up  the  mountain  of  Sinai  over  you,  saying, 
Receive  the  law  which  we  have  given  you,  with  a  resolution 
to  keep  it,  and  remember  that  which  is  contained  therein,  that 
ye  may  beware.  After  this  ye  again  turned  back,  so  that 
if  it  had  not  been  for  GOD'S  indulgence  and  mercy  towards 
you,  ye  had  certainly  been  destroyed.  Moreover  ye  know 
what  befell  those  of  your  nation  who  transgressed  on  the  Sab- 
bath day ;  We  said  unto  them,  Be  ye  changed  into  apes, 
driven  away  from  the  society  of  men.1  And  we  made  them 
an  example  unto  those  who  were  contemporary  with  them, 
and  unto  those  who  came  after  them,  and  a  warning  to  the 
pious.  And  when  Moses  said  unto  his  people,  Verily  GOD 
commandeth  you  to  sacrifice  a  cow ;  they  answered,  Dost 
thou  make  a  jest  of  us ! 2  Moses  said,  GOD  forbid  that  I 
should  be  one  of  the  foolish.  They  said,  Pray  for  us  unto 
thy  LORD,  that  he  would  show  us  what  cow  it  is.  Moses 
answered,  He  saith,  She  is  neither  an  old  cow,  nor  a  young 
heifer,  but  of  a  middle  age  between  both :  do  ye  therefore 
that  which  ye  are  commanded.  They  said,  Pray  for  us  unto 
thy  LORD,  that  he  would  show  us  what  color  she  is  of. 
Moses  answered,  He  saith,  She  is  a  red  cow,  intensely  red, 
her  color  rejoiceth  the  beholders.  They  said,  Pray  for  us 
nnto  thy  LORD,  that  he  would  further  show  us  what  cow  it 
is,  for  several  cows  with  us  are  like  one  another,  and  we,  if 
GOD  please,  will  be  directed.  Moses  answered,  He  saith, 
She  is  a  cow  not  broken  to  plough  the  earth,  or  water  the 
field,  a  sound  one,  there  is  no  blemish  in  her.  They  said 


AL    KORAN.  H3 

Now  hast  thou  brought  the  truth.  Then  they  sacrificed  her ; 
yet  they  wanted  but  little  of  leaving  it  undone.  And  when 
ye  slew  a  man,  and  contended  among  yourselves  concerning 
him,  GOD  brought  forth  to  light  that  which  ye  concealed. 
For  we  said,  Strike  the  dead  body  with  part  of  the  sacrificed 
cow :  so  GOD  raiseth  the  dead  to  life,  and  showeth  you  his 
signs,  that  peradventure  ye  may  understand.  Then  were 
your  hearts  hardened  after  this,  even  as  stones,  or  exceeding 
them  in  hardness :  for  from  some  stones  have  rivers  bursted 
forth,  others  have  been  rent  in  sunder,  and  water  hath  issued 
from  them,  and  others  have  fallen  down  for  fear  of  GOD. 
But  GOD  is  not  regardless  of  that  which  ye  do.  Do  ye  there- 
fore desire  that  the  Jews  should  believe  you  ?  yet  a  part  of 
them  heard  the  word  of  GOD,  and  then  perverted  it,  after 
they  had  understood  it,  against  their  own  conscience.  And 
when  they  meet  the  true  believers,  they  say,  We  believe: 
but  when  they  are  privately  assembled  together,  they  say, 
Will  ye  acquaint  them  with  what  GOD  hath  revealed  unto 
you,  that  they  may  dispute  with  you  concerning  it  in  the 
presence  of  your  LORD?  Do  ye  not  therefore  understand? 
Do  not  they  know  that  GOD  knoweth  that  which  they  con- 
ceal as  well  as  that  which  they  publish  ?  But  there  are 
illiterate  men  among  them,  who  know  not  the  book  of  the 
law,  but  only  lying  stories,  although  they  think  otherwise. 
And  woe  unto  them,  who  transcribe  corruptly  the  book  of  the 
law  with  their  hands,  and  then  say,  This  is  from  GOD  :  that 
they  may  sell  it  for  a  small  price.  Therefore  woe  unto  them 
because  of  that  which  their  hands  have  written ;  and  woe 
unto  them  for  that  which  they  have  gained.  They  nay,  The 
fire  of  hett  shall  not  touch  us  but  for  a  certain  number  of 
days.  Answer,  Have  ye  received  any  promise  from  GOD  to 
that  purpose  ?  for  GOD  will  not  act  contrary  to  his  promise : 
or  do  ye  speak  concerning  GOD  that  which  ye  know  not  ? 
Verily  whoso  doth  evil,  and  is  encompassed  by  his  iniquity, 
they  shall  be  the  companions  of  hell  fire,  they  shall  remain 
therein  forever:  but  they  who  believe  and  do  good  works, 
they  shall  be  the  companions  of  paradise,  they  shall  continue 
therein  forever.  Remember  also,  when  we  accepted  the 
covenant  of  the  children  of  Israel,  saying,  Ye  shall  not  wor- 
ship any  other  except  GOD,  and  ye  shall  show  kindness  to 
your  parents  and  kindred,  and  to  orphans,  and  to  the  poor, 
and  speak  that  which  is  good  unto  men,  and  be  constant  at 


84  AL   KORAN. 

prayer,  and  give  alms.  Afterwards  ye  turned  back,  except 
a  few  of  you,  and  retired  afar  off.  And  when  we  accepted 
your  covenant,  saying,  Ye  shall  not  shed  your  brother's  blood. 
nor  dispossess  one  another  of  your  habitations  ;  then  ye  con 
firmed  it,  and  were  witnesses  thereto.  Afterwards  ye  wer« 
they  who  slew  one  another,  and  turned  several  of  your  breth- 
ren out  of  their  houses,  mutually  assisting  each  other  against 
them  with  injustice  and  enmity ;  but  if  they  come  captives 
unto  you,  ye  redeem  them :  yet  it  is  equally  unlawful  for 
you  to  dispossess  them.  Do  ye  therefore  believe  in  part 
of  the  book  of  the  law,  and  reject  other  part  thereof?  But 
whoso  among  you  doth  this,  shall  have  no  other  reward 
ihan  shame  in  this  life,  and  on  the  day  of  resurrection  they 
shall  be  sent  to  a  most  grievous  punishment ;  for  GOD  is  not 
regardless  of  that  which  ye  do.  These  are  they  who  have 
purchased  this  present  life,  at  the  price  of  that  which  is  to 
come ;  wherefore  their  punishment  shall  not  be  mitigated, 
neither  shall  they  be  helped.  We  formerly  delivered  the 
book  of  the  law  unto  Moses,  and  caused  apostles  to  succeed 
him,  and  gave  evident  miracles  to  Jesus  the  son  of  Mary, 
and  strengthened  him  with  the  holy  spirit.  Do  ye  there- 
fore, whenever  an  apostle  cometh  unto  you  with  that  which 
your  souls  desire  not,  proudly  reject  him,  and  accuse  some 
of  imposture,  and  slay  others  ?  The  Jews  say,  Our  hearts 
are  uncircumcised :  but  GOD  hath  cursed  them  with  their 
infidelity ;  therefore  few  shall  believe.  And  when  a  book 
came  unto  them  from  GOD,  confirming  the  scriptures  which 
were  with  then,  although  they  had  before  prayed  for  assist- 
ance against  those  who  believed  not,  yet  when  that  came 
unto  them  which  they  knew  to  be  from  God,  they  would  not 
believe  therein :  therefore  the  curse  of  GOD  shall  be  on  the 
infidels.  For  a  vile  price  have  they  sold  their  souls,  that 
they  should  not  believe  in  that  which  GOD  hath  sent  down ; 
out  of  envy,  because  GOD  sendeth  down  his  favors  to  such 
of  his  servants  as  he  pleaseth :  therefore  they  brought  on 
themselves  indignation  on  indignation  ;  and  the  unbelievers 
shall  suffer  an  ignominious  punishment.  When  one  saith 
unto  them,  Believe  in  that  which  GOD  hath  sent  down ;  they 
answer,  We  believe  in  that  which  hath  been  sent  down  unto 
us :  and  they  reject  what  hath  been  revealed  since,  although 
it  be  the  truth,  confirming  that  which  is  with  them.  Say, 
Why  therefore  have  ye  slain  the  prophets  of  GOD  in  timei 


AL  KORAN.  65 

past,  if  ys  be  true  believers?  Moses  formerly  came  unto 
you  with  evident  signs,  but  ye  afterwards  took  the  calf  for 
your  god  and  did  wickedly.  And  when  we  accepted  your 
covenant,  and  lifted  the  mountain  of  Sinai  over  you,  saying 
Receive  the  law  which  we  have  given  you,  with  a  resolution 
to  perform  it,  and  hear ;  they  said,  We  have  heard,  and  have 
rebelled :  and  they  were  made  to  drink  down  the  calf  into 
their  hearts  for  their  unbelief.  Say,  A  grievous  thing  hath 
your  faith  commanded  you,  if  ye  be  true  believers  ?  Say, 
if  the  future  mansion  with  GOD  be  prepared  peculiarly  for 
you,  exclusive  of  the  rest  of  mankind,  wish  for  death,  if  ye 
say  truth ;  but  they  will  never  wish  for  it,  because  of  that 
which  their  hands  have  sent  before  them  ;  GOD  knoweth  the 
wicked-doers ;  and  thou  shalt  surely  find  them  of  all  men 
the  most  covetous  of  life,  even  more  than  the  idolaters :  one 
of  them  would  desire  his  life  to  be  prolonged  a  thousand 
years,  but  none  shall  reprieve  himself  from  punishment,  that 
his  life  may  be  prolonged :  GOD  seeth  that  which  they  do. 
Say,  Whoever  is  an  enemy  to  Gabriel  (for  he  hath  caused 
the  Koran  to  descend  on  thy  heart,  by  the  permission  of 
GOD,  confirming  that  which  was  before  revealed,  a  direc- 
tion, and  good  tidings  to  the  faithful)  ;  whosoever  is  an 
enemy  to  GOD,  or  his  angels,  or  his  apostles,  or  to  Gabriel, 
or  Michael,  verily  GOD  is  an  enemy  to  the  unbelievers. 
And  now  we  have  sent  down  unto  thee  evident  signs,  and 
none  will  disbelieve  them  but  the  evil-doers.  Whenever 
they  make  a  covenant,  will  some  of  them  reject  it  ?  yea,  the 
greater  part  of  them  do  not  believe.  And  when  there  came 
unto  them  an  apostle  from  GOD,  confirming  that  scripture 
which  was  with  them,  some  of  those  to  whom  the  scriptures 
were  given  cast  the  book  of  GOD  behind  their  backs,  as  if 
they  knew  it  not:  and  they  followed  the  device  which  the 
devils  devised  against  the  kingdom  of  Solomon  ;  and  Solomon 
was  not  an  unbeliever ;  but  the  devils  believed  not,  they 
taught  men  sorcery,  and  that  which  was  sent  down  to  the  two 
angels  at  Babel,  Harut  and  Marut:  yet  those  two  taught  no 
man  until  they  had  said,  Verily  we  are  a  temptation,  there- 
fore be  not  an  unbeliever.  So  men  learned  from  those  two 
a  charm  by  which  they  might  cause  division  between  a  man 
and  his  wife ;  but  they  hurt  none  thereby,  unless  by  GOD'S 
permission,  and  they  learned  that  which  would  hurt  them, 
and  not  profit  them  ;  and  yet  they  knew  that  he  who  bought 


58  AL   KORAN. 

that  art  should  have  no  part  in  the  life  to  come,  and  woful 
is  the  price  for  which  they  have  sold  their  souls,  if  they 
knew  it.  But  if  they  had  believed,  and  feared  GOD,  verily 
the  reward  they  would  have  had  from  GOD  would  have 
been  better,  if  they  had  known  it.  O  true  believers,  say 
not  to  our  apostle,  Raina  ;  but  say  Ondhorna  ;  and  hearken  : 
the  infidels  shall  suffer  a  grievous  punishment.  It  is  not 
^e  desire  of  the  unbelievers,  either  among  those  unto  whom 
the  scriptures  have  been  given,  or  among  the  idolaters,  that 
any  good  should  be  sent  down  unto  you  from  your  LORD  . 
but  GOD  will  appropriate  his  mercy  unto  whom  he  pleaseth ; 
for  GOD  is  exceeding  beneficent.  Whatever  verse  we  shall 
abrogate,  or  cause  thee  to  forget,  we  will  bring  a  better  than 
it,  or  one  like  unto  it.  Dost  thou  not  know  that  God  is 
almighty?  Dost  thou  not  know  that  unto  GOD  belongeth 
the  kingdom  of  heaven  and  earth  ?  neither  have  ye  any 
protector  or  helper  except  GOD.  Will  ye  require  of  your 
apostle  according  to  that  which  was  formerly  required  of 
Moses  ?  but  he  that  hath  exchanged  faith  for  infidelity,  hath 
already  erred  from  the  straight  way.  Many  of  those  unto 
whom  the  scriptures  have  been  given,  desire  to  render  you 
again  unbelievers,  after  ye  have  believed ;  out  of  envy  from 
their  souls,  even  after  the  truth  is  become  manifest  unto 
them ;  but  forgive  them,  and  avoid  them,  till  GOD  shall 
send  his  command ;  for  GOD  is  omnipotent.  Be  constant 
in  prayer,  and  give  alms  ;  and  what  good  ye  have  sent 
before  for  your  souls,  ye  shall  find  it  with  GOD  ;  surely 
GOD  seeth  that  which  ye  do.  They  say,  Verily  none 
shall  enter  paradise,  except  they  who  are  Jews  or  Chris- 
tians :  this  is  their  wish.  Say,  Produce  your  proof  of  thig, 
if  ye  speak  truth.  Nay,  but  he  who  resigneth  himself  to 
GOD,  and  doth  that  which  is  right,  he  shall  have  his  reward 
with  his  LORD  :  there  shall  come  no  fear  on  them,  neither 
shall  they  be  grieved.  The  Jews  say,  The  Christians  are 
grounded  on  nothing ;  and  the  Christians  say,  The  Jews 
are  grounded  on  nothing ;  yet  they  both  read  the  scriptures. 
So  likewise  say  they  who  know  not  the  scripture,  accord- 
ing to  their  saying.  But  GOD  shall  judge  between  them 
on  the  day  of  the  resurrection,  concerning  that  about  which 
they  now  disagree.  Who  is  more  unjust  than  he  who  pro- 
hibiteth  the  temples  of  GOD,  that  his  name  should  be  re- 
membered therein,  and  who  hasteth  to  destroy  them  ?  Those 


AL  KORAN.  VI 

own  cannot  enter  therein,  but  with  fear:  they  shall  have 
shame  in  this  world,  and  in  the  next  a  grievous  punish- 
ment To  GOD  belongeth  the  east  and  the  west ;  there- 
fore whithersoever  ye  turn  yourselves  to  pray,  there  is  th« 
face  of  GOD  ;  for  GOD  is  omnipresent  and  omniscient. 
They  say,  GOD  hath  begotten  children :  GOD  forbid !  To 
him  belongeth  whatever  is  in  heaven,  and  on  earth ;  all  ia 
possessed  by  him,  the  Creator  of  heaven  and  earth  ;  and 
when  he  decreeth  a  thing,  he  only  saith  unto  it,  Be,  and 
it  is.  And  they  who  know  not  the  scriptures  say,  Unless 
GOD  speak  unto  us,  or  thou  show  us  a  sign,  we  will  not 
believe.  So  said  those  before  them,  according  to  their  say- 
ing: their  hearts  resemble  each  other.  We  have  already 
shown  manifest  signs  unto  people  who  firmly  believe ;  we 
have  sent  thee  in  truth,  a  bearer  of  good  tidings  and  a 
preacher ;  and  thou  shalt  not  be  questioned  concerning  the 
companions  of  hell.  But  the  Jews  will  not  be  pleased  with 
thee,  neither  the  Christians,  until  thou  follow  their  religion ; 
say,  The  direction  of  GOD  is  the  true  direction.  And  verily 
if  thou  follow  their  desires,  after  the  knowledge  which  hath 
been  given  thee,  thou  shalt  find  no  patron  or  protector 
against  GOD.  They  to  whom  we  have  given  the  book  of 
the  Koran,  and  who  read  it  with  its  true  reading,  they  be- 
lieve therein ;  and  whoever  believeth  not  therein,  they  shall 
perish.  0  children  of  Israel,  remember  my  favor  where- 
with I  have  favored  you,  and  that  I  have  preferred  you 
before  all  nations;  and  dread  the  day  wherein  one  soul 
shall  not  make  satisfaction  for  another  soul,  neither  shall 
any  compensation  be  accepted  from  them,  nor  shall  any  in- 
tercession avail,  neither  shall  they  be  helped.  Remember 
when  the  LORD  tried  Abraham  by  certain  words,  which  h* 
fulfilled  :  GOD  said,  Verily  I  will  constitute  thee  a  model 
of  religion  unto  mankind;  he  answered,  And  also  of  my 
posterity  ;  GOD  said,  My  covenant  doth  not  comprehend  tLe 
ungodly.  And  when  we  appointed  the  holy  house  of  Mecca 
to  be  a  place  of  resort  for  mankind,  and  a  place  of  security  ; 
and  said,  Take  the  station  of  Abraham  for  a  place  of 
prayer  ;  and  we  covenanted  with  Abraham  and  Ismael,  that 
they  should  cleanse  my  house  for  those  who  should  compass 
it,  and  those  who  should  be  devoutly  assiduous  there,  and 
those  who  should  bow  down  and  worship.  And  when  Abra- 
ham said,  LOED  make  this  a  territory  of  security,  and  boun- 


68  AL  KORAN. 

teously  bestow  fruits  on  its  inhabitants,  such  of  them  as 
believe  in  GOD  and  the  last  day ;  GOD  answered,  And 
whoever  believeth  not,  I  will  bestow  on  him  little  ;  after 
wards  I  will  drive  him  to  the  punishment  of  hell  fire  ;  an 
ill  journey  shall  it  be !  And  when  Abraham  and  Ismael 
raised  the  foundations  of  the  house,  saying,  LORD,  accept 
it  from  us,  for  thou  art  he  who  heareth  and  knoweth  : 
LORD,  make  us  also  resigned  unto  thee,  and  of  our  pos- 
terity a  people  resigned  unto  thee,  and  show  us  our  holy 
ceremonies,  and  be  turned  unto  us,  for  thou  art  easy  to 
be  reconciled,  and  merciful :  LORD,  send  them  likewise  an 
apostle  from  among  them,  who  may  declare  thy  signs  unto 
them,  and  teach  them  the  book  of  the  Koran  and  wisdom, 
and  may  purify  them  ;  for  thou  art  mighty  and  wise .  Who 
will  be  averse  to  the  religion  of  Abraham,  but  he  whose 
mind  is  infatuated  ?  Surely  we  have  chosen  him  in  this 
world,  and  in  that  which  is  to  come  he  shall  be  one  of  the 
righteous.  When  his  LORD  said  unto  him,  Resign  thyself 
unto  me  ;  he  answered,  I  have  resigned  myself  unto  the 
LORD  of  all  creatures.  And  Abraham  bequeathed  this  re- 
ligion to  his  children,  and  Jacob  did  the  same,  saying,  My 
children,  verily  GOD  hath  chosen  this  religion  for  you, 
therefore  die  not,  unless  ye  also  be  resigned.  Were  ye 
present  when  Jacob  was  at  the  point  of  death  ?  when  he 
said  to  his  sons,  Whom  will  ye  worship  after  me?  They 
answered,  We  will  worship  thy  GOD,  and  the  GOD  of  thy 
fathers  Abraham,  and  Ismael,  and  Isaac,  one  GOD,  and  to 
him  will  we  be  resigned.  That  people  are  now  passed  away, 
they  have  what  they  have  gained,  and  ye  shall  have  what  ye 
gain ;  and  ye  shall  not  be  questioned  concerning  that  which 
they  have  done.  They  say,  Become  Jews  or  Christians  that 
ye  may  be  directed.  Say,  Nay,  we  follow  the  religion  of  Abra- 
ham the  orthodox,  who  was  no  idolater.  Say,  We  believe 
in  GOD,  and  that  which  hath  been  sent  down  unto  us,  and 
that  which  hath  been  sent  down  unto  Abraham,  and  Ismael, 
and  Isaac,  and  Jacob,  and  the  tribes,  and  that  which  was 
delivered  unto  Moses,  and  Jesus,  and  that  which  was  de- 
livered unto  the  prophets  from  their  LORD  :  We  make  no 
distinction  between  any  of  them,  and  to  GOD  are  we  re- 
signed. Now  if  they  believe  according  to  what  ye  believe, 
they  are  surely  directed,  but  if  they  turn  back,  they  are 
m  schism.  GOD  shall  support  thee  against  them,  for  he  u 


JLL  KORAN.  69 

in  the  hearer,  the  wise.  The  baptism  of  GOD  have  we  »*• 
ceived,  and  who  is  better  than  GOD  to  baptize  ?  him  do  we 
worship.  Say,  Will  ye  dispute  with  us  concerning  GOD,  who 
is  our  LORD,  and  your  LORD?  we  have  our  works,  and 
ye  have  your  works,  and  unto  him  are  we  sincerely  devoted 
Will  ye  say,  truly  Abraham,  and  Ismael,  and  Isaac,  and  Ja- 
cob, and  the  tribes  were  Jews  or  Christians  ?  Say,  ar«  ye 
wiser,  or  GOD  ?  And  who  is  more  unjust  than  he  who  hideth 
the  testimony  which  he  hath  received  from  GOD  ?  But  GOD 
is  not  regardless  of  that  which  ye  do.  That  people  are 
passed  away,  they  have  what  they  have  gained,  and  ye 
shall  have  what  ye  gain,  nor  shall  ye  be  questioned  concern- 
ing that  which  they  have  done.  The  foolish  men  will  say, 
What  hath  turned  them  from  their  Keblah,  towards  which 
they  formerly  prayed  f1  Say  unto  GOD  belongeth  the  east  and 
the  west :  he  directeth  whom  he  pleaseth  into  the  right 
way.  Thus  have  we  placed  you,  0  Arabians,  an  inter- 
mediate nation,  that  ye  may  be  witness  against  the  rest  of 
mankind,  and  that  the  apostle  may  be  a  witness  against  you. 
We  appointed  the  Keblah,  towards  which  thou  didst  for- 
merly pray,  only  that  we  might  know  him  who  followeth  the 
apostle,  from  him  who  turneth  back  on  the  heels ;  though 
this  change  seem  a  great  matter,  unless  unto  those  whom 
GOD  hath  directed.  But  GOD  will  not  render  your  faith 
of  none  effect ;  for  GOD  is  gracious  and  merciful  unto  man. 
We  have  seen  thee  turn  about  thy  face  towards  heaven 
vrith  uncertainty,  but  we  will  cause  thee  to  turn  thyself 
towards  a  Keblah  that  will  please  thee.  Turn,  therefore, 
thy  face  towards  the  holy  temple  of  Mecca ;  and  wherever 
ye  be,  turn  your  faces  towards  that  place.  They  to  whom 
the  scripture  hath  been  given,  know  this  to  be  truth  from 
their  LORD.  GOD  is  not  regardless  of  that  which  ye  do. 
Verily  although  thou  shouldest  show  unto  those  to  whom  the 
scripture  hath  been  given  all  kinds  of  signs,  yet  they  will  not 
follow  thy  Keblah,  neither  shalt  thou  follow  their  Keblah  ; 
nor  will  one  part  of  them  follow  the  Keblah  of  the  other. 
And  if  thou  follow  their  desires,  after  the  knowledge  which 
hath  been  given  thee,  verily  thou  wilt  become  one  of  the 
ungodly.  They  to  whom  we  have  given  the  scripture  know 
our  apostle,  even  as  they  know  their  own  children  ;  but  some 
of  them  hide  the  truth,  against  their  own  knowledge* 
Truth  is  from  thy  LORD,  therefore  thou  shalt  not  doubt 


70  AL  KORAN. 

Every  sect  hath  a  certain  tract  of  heaven  to  which  they 
turn  themselves  in  prayer ;  but  do  ye  strive  to  run  after 
good  things;  wherever  ye  be,  GOD  will  bring  you  all  backal 
the  resurrection,  for  GOD  is  almighty.  And  from  what  place 
soever  thou  comest  forth,  turn  thy  face  towards  the  holy 
temple ;  for  this  is  truth  from  thy  LORD  ;  neither  is  GOD 
regardless  of  that  which  ye  do.  From  what  place  soever 
thou  comest  forth,  turn  thy  face  towards  the  holy  temple ; 
and  wherever  ye  be,  thitherward  turn  your  faces,  lest  men 
have  matter  of  dispute  against  you  ;  but  as  for  those  among 
them  who  are  unjust  doers,  fear  them  not,  but  fear  me,  that 
E  may  accomplish  my  grace  upon  you,  and  that  ye  may  be 
directed.  As  we  have  sent  unto  you  an  apostle  from  among 
you,  to  rehearse  our  signs  unto  you,  and  to  purify  you,  and 
to  teach  you  the  book  of  the  Koran  and  wisdom,  and  to 
teach  you  that  which  ye  knew  not:  therefore  remember 
me,  and  I  will  remember  you,  and  give  thanks  unto  me,  and 
be  not  unbelievers.  0  true  believers,  beg  assistance  with 
patience  and  prayer,  for  GOD  is  with  the  patient.  And 
say  not  of  those  who  are  slain  in  fight  for  the  religion  of 
GOD,  that  they  are  dead;  yea,  they  are  living:  but  ye  do 
not  understand.  We  will  surely  prove  you  by  afflicting  you 
in  some  measure  with  fear,  and  hunger,  and  decrease  of 
wealth,  and  loss  of  lives,  and  scarcity  of  fruits :  but  bear 
good  tidings  unto  the  patient,  who,  when  a  misfortune  befall- 
eth  them,  say,  We  are  GOD'S  and  unto  him  shall  we  surely 
return.  Upon  them  shall  be  blessings  from  their  LORD 
and  mercy,  and  they  are  the  rightly  directed.  Moreover 
Safa  and  Merwah  are  two  of  the  monuments  of  God  :  who- 
ever therefore  goeth  on  pilgrimage  to  the  temple  of  Mecca 
or  visiteth  it,  it  shall  be  no  crime  in  him,  if  he  compass  them 
both.1  And  as  for  him  who  voluntarily  performeth  a  good 
work  ;  verily  GOD  is  grateful  and  knowing.  They  who  con- 
ceal any  of  the  evident  signs,  or  the  direction  which  we  have 
sent  down,  after  what  we  have  manifested  unto  men  in  the 
scripture,  GOD  shall  curse  them ;  and  they  who  curse  shall 
curse  them.  But  as  for  those  who  repent"  and  amend,  and 
make  known  what  they  concealed,  I  will  be  turned  unto 
them,  for  I  am  easy  to  be  reconciled  and  merciful.  Surely 
they  who  believe  not,  and  die  in  their  unbelief,  upon  them 
ihall  be  the  curse  of  GOD,  and  of  the  angels,  and  of  all 
men ;  they  shall  remain  under  it  forever,  their  punishment 


AL,  KORAN.  .  71 

•hall  not  be  alleviated,  neither  shall  they  be  regarded.  Youi 
GOD  is  one  Gor> ;  there  is  no  GOD  but  He,  the  most  merci 
fill.  Now  in  the  creation  of  heaven  and  earth,  and  the  vi- 
cissitude of  night  and  day,  and  in  the  ship  which  saileth  in 
the  sea,  loaden  with  what  is  profitable  for  mankind,  and  in 
the  rain  water  which  GOD  sendeth  from  heaven,  quicken- 
ing thereby  the  dead  earth,  and  replenishing  the  same  with 
all  sorts  of  cattle,  and  in  the  change  of  winds,  and  the  clouds 
that  are  compelled  to  do  service  between  heaven  and  earth, 
are  signs  to  people  of  understanding :  yet  some  men  take 
idols  beside  GOD,  and  love  them  as  with  the  love  due  to 
GOD  ;  but  the  true  believers  are  more  fervent  in  love  to- 
wards GOD.  Oh  that  they  who  act  unjustly  did  perceive, 
when  they  behold  their  punishment,  that  all  power  belongeth 
unto  GOD,  and  that  he  is  severe  in  punishing !  When  those 
who  have  been  followed  shall  separate  themselves  from  their 
followers,  and  shall  see  the  punishment,  and  the  cords  oj 
relation  between  them  shall  be  cut  in  sunder;  the  followers 
shall  say,  If  we  could  return  to  life,  we  would  separate  our- 
selves from  them,  as  they  have  now  separated  themselves 
from  us.  So  GOD  will  show  them  their  works ;  they  shall 
sigh  grievously,  and  shall  not  come  forth  from  the  fire  of 
hett.  O  men,  eat  of  that  which  is  lawful  and  good  on  the 
earth  ;  and  tread  not  in  the  steps  of  the  devil,  for  he  is  your 
open  enemy.  Verily  he  commandeth  you  evil  and  wicked- 
ness, and  that  ye  should  say  that  of  GOD  which  ye  know 
not.  And  when  it  is  said  unto  them  who  believe  not,  Fol- 
low that  which  GOD  hath  sent  down  ;  they  answer,  Nay,  but 
we  will  follow  that  which  we  found  our  fathers  practise. 
What  ?  though  their  fathers  knew  nothing,  and  were  not 
rightly  directed  ?  The  unbelievers  are  like  unto  one  who 
crieth  alo  id  to  that  which  heareth  not  so  much  as  his  call- 
ing, or  the  sound  of  his  voice.  They  are  deaf,  dumb,  and 
blind,  therefore  do  they  not  understand.  O  true  believers, 
eat  of  the  good  things  which  we  have  bestowed  on  you  for 
food,  and  return  thanks  unto  GOD,  if  ye  serve  him.  Verily 
he  hath  forbidden  you  to  eat  that  which  dieth  of  itself,  and 
blood  and  swine's  flesh,  and  that  on  which  any  other  name 
but  GOD'S  hath  been  invocated.  But  he  who  is  forced  by 
necessity,  not  lusting,  ncr  returning  to  transgress,  it  shall  be 
no  crime  in  him  if  he  eat  of  those  thing*,  for  GOD  is  gracious 
and  merciful.  Moreover  they  who  conceal  any  part  of  th« 


72  AL  KORAN. 

ecripture  which  GOD  hath  sent  down  unto  them,  and  sell  It 
for  a  small  price,  they  shall  swallow  into  their  bellies  nothing 
but  fire;  GOD  shall  not  speak  unto  them  on  the  day  of 
resurrection,  neither  shall  he  purify  them,  and  they  shall 
Buffer  a  grievous  punishment.  These  are  they  who  hare 
eold  direction  for  error,  and  pardon  for  punishment  :  but 
how  great  will  their  suffering  be  in  the  fire !  This  they  shall 
endure,  because  GOD  sent  down  the  book  of  the  Koran  with 
truth,  and  they  who  disagree  concerning  that  book  are  cer- 
tainly in  a  wide  mistake.  It  is  not  righteousness  that  ye 
turn  your  faces  in  prayer  towards  the  east  and  the  west,  but 
righteousness  is  of  him  who  believeth  in  GOD  and  the  last 
day,  and  the  angels,  and  the  scriptures,  and  the  prophets  ; 
who  giveth  money  for  GOD'S  sake  unto  his  kindred,  and 
unto  orphans,  and  the  needy,  and  the  stranger,  and  those 
who  ask,  and  for  redemption  of  captives ;  who  is  constant 
at  prayer,  and  giveth  alms ;  and  of  those  who  perform  their 
covenant,  when  they  have  covenanted,  and  who  behave  them- 
selves patiently  in  adversity,  and  hardships,  and  in  time  of 
violence ;  these  are  they  who  are  true,  and  these  are  they  who 
fear  GOD.  O  true  believers,  the  law  of  retaliation  is  ordained 
you  for  the  slain :  the  free  shall  die  for  the  free,  and  the  ser- 
vant for  the  servant,  and  a  woman  for  a  woman  :  but  he  whom 
his  brother  shall  forgive  may  be  prosecuted,  and  obliged  to 
make  satisfaction  according  to  what  is  just,  and  a  fine  shall  be 
set  on  him  with  humanity.  This  is  indulgence  from  your 
LORD,  and  mercy.  And  he  who  shall  transgress  after  this,  by 
kitting  the  murderer,  shall  suffer  a  grievous  punishment  And 
in  this  law  of  retaliation  ye  have  life,  O  ye  of  understanding, 
that  peradventure  ye  may  fear.  It  is  ordained  you,  when 
any  of  you  is  at  the  point  of  death,  if  he  leave  any  goods, 
that  he  bequeath  a  legacy  to  his  parents,  and  kindred,  ac- 
cording to  what  shall  be  reasonable.  This  is  a  duty  incum- 
bent on  those  who  fear  GOD.  But  he  who  shall  change  tht 
legacy,  after  he  hath  heard  it  bequeathed  by  the  dying  person, 
surely  the  sin  thereof  shall  be  on  those  who  change  it,  for 
GOD  is  he  who  heareth  and  knoweth.  Howbeit  he  whc 
apprehendeth  from  the  testator  any  mistake  or  injustice,  and 
shall  compose  the  matter  between  them,  that  shall  be  nc 
crime  in  him,  for  GOD  is  gracious  and  merciful.  O  true 
believers,  a  fast  is  ordained  you,  as  it  was  ordained  unto 
those  before  you,  that  ye  may  fear  GOD.  A  certain  num- 


A.L   K.ORAN.  73 

ber  of  days  shall  ye  fast :  but  he  among  you  who  shall  be 
sick,  or  on  a  journey,  shall  fast  an  equal  number  of  other 
days.  And  those  who  can  keep  it,  and  do  not,  must  redeem 
their  neglect  by  maintaining  of  a  poor  man.  And  he  who 
vo'untarily  dealeth  better  with  the  poor  man  than  he  it 
obliged,  this  shall  be  better  for  him.  But  if  ye  fast,  it  will 
be  better  for  you,  if  ye  knew  it.  The  month  of  Ramadan 
thall  ye  fast,  in  which  the  Koran  was  sent  down  from  heaven, 
a  direction  unto  men,  and  declarations  of  direction,  and  the 
distinction  between  good  and  evil.  Therefore,  let  him  among 
you  who  shall  be  present  in  this  month,  fast  the  same  month ; 
but  he  who  shall  be  sick,  or  on  a  journey,  shall  fast  the 
like  number  of  other  days.  GOD  would  make  this  an  ease 
unto  you,  and  would  not  make  it  a  difficulty  unto  you  ;  that 
ye  may  fulfil  the  number  of  days,  and  glorify  GOD,  for  that 
he  hath  directed  you,  and  that  ye  may  give  thanks.  When 
my  servants  ask  thee  concerning  me,  Verily  I  am  near ;  I 
will  hear  the  prayer  of  him  that  prayeth,  when  he  prayeth 
unto  me :  but  let  them  hearken  unto  me,  and  believe  in  me, 
that  they  may  be  rightly  directed.  It  is  lawful  for  you,  on 
the  night  of  the  fast,  to  go  in  unto  your  wives ;  they  are  a 
garment  unto  you,  and  ye  are  a  garment  unto  them.  GOD 
knoweth  that  ye  defraud  yourselves  therein,  wherefore  he 
turneth  unto  you,  and  forgiveth  you.  Now,  therefore,  go  in 
unto  them ;  and  earnestly  desire  that  which  GOD  ordaineth 
you,  and  eat  and  drink,  until  ye  can  plainly  distinguish  a 
white  thread  from  a  black  thread  by  the  daybreak :  then 
keep  the  fast  until  night,  and  go  not  in  unto  them,  but  be 
constantly  present  in  the  places  of  worship.  These  are  the 
prescribed  bounds  of  GOD,  therefore  draw  not  near  them 
to  transgress  them.  Thus  GOD  declareth  his  signs  unto  men, 
that  ye  may  fear  him.  Consume  not  your  wealth  among 
yourselves  in  vain ;  nor  present  it  unto  judges,  that  ye  may 
devour  part  of  men's  substance  unjustly,  against  your  own 
consciences.  They  will  ask  thee  concerning  the  phases  of 
the  moon :  Answer,  They  are  times  appointed  unto  men,  and 
to  show  the  season  of  the  pilgrimage  to  Mecca.  It  is  not 
righteousness  that  ye  enter  your  houses  by  the  back  parts 
thereof,  but  righteousness  is  of  him  who  feareth  GOD^ 
Therefore  enter  your  houses  by  their  doors ;  and  fear  GOD, 
that  ye  may  be  happy.  And  fight  for  the  religion  of  GOD 
against  those  who  fight  against  you ;  but  transgress  not  by 


74  AL  KORAN. 

attacking  them  first,  for  GOD  loveth  not  the  transgressor* 
And  kill  them  wherever  ye  find  them,  and  turn  them  out 
of  that  whereof  they  have  dispossessed  you ;  for  temptation 
to  idolatry  is  more  grievous  than  slaughter;  yet  fight  not 
against  them  in  the  holy  temple,  until  they  attack  you  there- 
in ;  but  if  they  attack  you,  slay  them  there.  This  shall  be 
the  reward  of  infidels.  But  if  they  desist,  GOD  is  gracious 
and  merciful.  Fight  therefore  against  them,  until  there  be 
no  temptation  to  idolatry,  and  the  religion  be  GOD'S  ;  but 
if  they  desist,  then  let  there  be  no  hostility,  except  against 
the  ungodly.  A  sacred  month  for  a  sacred  month,  and  the 
holy  limits  of  Mecca,  if  they  attack  you  therein,  do  ye  also 
attack  them  therein  in  retaliation  ;  and  whoever  transgresseth 
against  you  by  so  doing,  do  ye  transgress  against  him  in  like 
manner  as  he  hath  transgressed  against  you,  and  fear  GOD, 
and  know  that  GOD  is  with  those  who  fear  him.  Contribute 
out  of  your  substance  toward  the  defence  of  the  religion  of 
GOD,  and  throw  not  yourselves  with  you*'  own  hands  into 
perdition ;  and  do  good,  for  GOD  loveth  those  who  do  good. 
Perform  the  pilgrimage  of  Mecca,  and  the  visitation  of  GOD; 
and,  if  ye  be  besieged,  send  that  offering  which  shall  be 
the  easiest ;  and  shave  not  your  heads,  until  your  offering 
reacheth  the  place  of  sacrifice.  But,  whoever  among  you  is 
sick,  or  is  troubled  with  any  distemper  of  the  head,  must 
redeem  the  shaving  his  head,  by  fasting,  or  alms,  or  some 
offering.  When  ye  are  secure  from  enemies,  he  who  tar- 
rieth  in  the  visitation  of  the  temple  of  Mecca  until  the  pil- 
grimage, shall  bring  that  offering  which  shall  be  the  easiest. 
But  he  who  findeth  not  anything  to  offer,  shall  fast  three 
days  in  the  pilgrimage,  and  seven  when  ye  are  returned: 
they  shall  be  ten  days  complete.  This  is  incumbent  on  him 
whose  family  shall  not  be  present  at  the  holy  temple.  And 
fear  GOD,  and  know  that  GOD  is  severe  in  punishing.  The 
pilgrimage  must  be  performed  in  the  known  months :  who- 
soever therefore  purposeth  to  go  on  pilgrimage  therein,  let 
him  not  know  a  woman,  nor  transgress,  nor  quarrel  in  the 
pilgrimage.  The  good  which  ye  do,  GOD  knoweth  it.  Make 
provision  for  your  journey  ;  but  the  best  provision  is  piety 
and  fear  me,  0  ye  of  understanding.  It  shall  be  no  crime  in 
you,  if  ye  seek  an  increase  from  your  LORD,  by  trading  dur- 
ing the  pilgrimage.  And  when  ye  go  in  procession  from  Ara- 
fat remember  GOD  near  the  holy  monument;1  and  remem- 


AL  KORAN.  71 

ber  him  for  that  he  hath  directed  you,  although  ye  were 
before  this  of  the  number  of  those  who  go  astray.  There- 
fore go  in  procession  from  whence  the  people  go  in  pio- 
cession,  and  ask  pardoa  of  GOD,  for  GOD  is  gracious  and 
merciful.  And  when  ye  have  finished  your  holy  ceremonies, 
remember  GOD,  according  as  ye  remember  your  fathers,  or 
with  a  more  reverent  commemoration.  There  are  some 
men  who  say,  O  LORD,  give  us  our  portion  in  this  world ; 
but  such  shall  have  no  portion  in  the  next  life :  and  there 
are  others  who  say,  O  LORD,  give  us  good  in  this  world  and 
also  good  in  the  next  world,  and  deliver  us  from  the  torment 
of  hett  fire.  They  shall  have  a  portion  of  that  which  they 
have  gained :  GOD  is  swift  in  taking  an  account.  Remem- 
ber GOD  the  appointed  number  of  days  ;  but  if  any  haste  to 
depart  from  the  valley  of  Mina  in  two  days,  it  shall  be  no 
crime  in  him.  And  if  any  tarry  longer,  it  shall  be  no  crime 
in  him,  in  him  who  feareth  GOD.  Therefore  fear  GOD,  and 
fcnow  that  unto  him  ye  shall  be  gathered.  There  is  a  man 
who  causeth  thee  to'  marvel  by  his  speech  concerning  thi» 
present  life,  and  calleth  God  to  witness  that  which  is  in  hia 
heart,  yet  he  is  most  intent  in  opposing  thee  ;  and  when  he 
turneth  away  from  thee,  he  hasteth  to  act  corruptly  in  the 
earth,  and  to  destroy  that  which  is  sown,  and  springeth  up : 
but  GOD  loveth  not  corrupt  doing.  And  if  one  say  unto  him, 
Fear  GOD  ;  pride  seizeth  him,  together  with  wickedness ; 
but  hell  shall  be  his  reward,  and  an  unhappy  couch  shall 
it  be.  There  is  also  a  man  who  selleth  his  soul  for  the 
sake  of  those  things  which  are  pleasing  unto  God ;  and 
GOD  is  gracious  unto  his  servants.  O  true  believers,  enter 
into  the  true  religion  wholly,  and  follow  not  the  steps  of 
Satan,  for  he  is  your  open  enemy.  If  ye  have  slipped 
after  the  declarations  of  our  will  have  come  unto  you, 
know  that  GOD  is  mighty  and  wise.  Do  the  infidels  ex- 
pect less  than  that  GOD  should  come  down  to  them  over- 
shadowed with  clouds,  and  the  angels  also  ?  but  the  thing 
is  decreed,  and  to  GOD  shall  all  things  return.  Ask  the 
children  of  Israel  how  many  evident  signs  we  have  showed 
them ;  and  whoever  shall  change  the  grace  of  GOD  after 
it  shall  have  come  unto  him,  verily  GOD  will  be  severe  in 
punishing  him.  The  present  life  was  ordained  for  those 
who  believe  not,  and  they  laugh  the  faithful  to  scorn ; 
but  they  who  fear  GOD  shall  be  above  them,  on  the  day 


T6  AL  KORAN. 

of  the  resurrection :  for  GOD  is  bountiful  unto  whom  h« 
pleaseth  without  measure.  Mankind  was  of  one  faith,  and 
GOD  sent  prophets  bearing  good  tidings,  and  denounc  ng 
threats  and  sent  down  with  them  the  scripture  in  tri  th, 
that  it  might  judge  between  men  of  that  concerning  wb.  <:h 
they  disagreed:  and  none  disagreed  concerning  it,  except 
those  to  whom  the  same  scriptures  were  delivered,  after 
the  declarations  of  GOD'S  will  had  come  unto  them,  out 
of  envy  among  themselves.  And  GOD  directed  those  who 
believed,  to  that  truth  concerning  which  they  disagreed,  by 
his  will :  for  GOD  directeth  whom  he  pleaseth  into  the 
right  way.  Did  ye  think  ye  should  enter  paradise,  when 
as  yet  no  such  thing  had  happened  unto  you,  as  hath  hap- 
pened unto  those  who  have  been  before  you  ?  They  suf- 
fered calamity,  and  tribulation,  and  were  afflicted  ;  so  that 
the  apostle,  and  they  who  believed  with  him,  said :  When 
will  the  help  of  GOD  come  ?  Is  not  the  help  of  GOD  nigh  ? 
They  will  ask  thee  what  they  shall  bestow  in  alms  :  Answer, 
The  good  which  ye  bestow,  let  it  be  given  to  parents,  and 
kindred,  and  orphans,  and  the  poor  and  the  stranger. 
Whatsoever  good  ye  do,  GOD  knoweth  it.  War  is  en- 
joined you  against  the  Infidels ;  but  this  is  hateful  unto 
you:  yet  perchance  ye  hate  a  thing  which  is  better  for  you, 
and  perchance  ye  love  a  thing  which  is  worse  for  you  :  but 
GOD  knoweth  and  ye  know  not.  They  will  ask  thee  con- 
cerning the  sacred  month,  whether  they  may  war  therein : 
Answer,  To  war  therein  is  grievous  ;  but  to  obstruct  the 
way  of  GOD,  and  infidelity  towards  him,  and  to  keep  men 
from  the  holy  temple,  and  to  drive  out  his  people  from 
thence,  is  more  grievous  in  the  sight  of  GOD,  and  the  temp- 
tation to  idolatry  is  more  grievous  than  to  kill  in  the  sacred 
months.  They  will  not  cease  to  war  against  you,  until 
they  turn  you  from  your  religion,  if  they  be  able :  but  who- 
ever among  you  shall  turn  back  from  his  religion,  and  die 
an  infidel,  their  works  shall  be  vain  in  this  world,  and  the 
next ;  they  shall  be  the  companions  of  hell  fire,  they  shall 
remain  therein  forever.  But  they  who  believe,  and  who 
fly  for  the  sake  of  religion,  and  fight  in  GOD'S  cause,  they 
shall  hope  for  the  mercy  of  GOD  ;  for  GOD  is  gracious  and 
merciful.  They  will  ask  thee  concerning  wine  and  lots 
Answer,  In  both  there  is  great  sin,  and  oho  some  things  of 
use  unto  men;  but  their  sinfulness  is  greater  than  theii 


AL  KORAN.  77 

use.  They  will  ask.  thee  also  what  they  shall  bestow  in 
alms :  Answer,  What  ye  have  to  spare.  Thus  GOD  showeth 
hit  signs  unto  you,  that  peradventure  ye  might  seriously 
think  of  this  present  world,  and  of  the  next.  They  will  also 
ask  thee  concerning  orphans:  Answer,  To  deal  righteously 
with  them  is  best ;  and  if  ye  intermeddle  with  the  manage- 
ment of  what  belongs  to  them,  do  them  no  wrong  ;  they  are 
your  brethren:  GOD  knoweth  the  corrupt  dealer  from  the 
righteous  ;  and  if  GOD  please,  he  will  surely  distress  you, 
for  GOD  is  mighty  and  wise.  Marry  not  women  who  are 
idolaters,  until  they  believe :  verily  a  maid-servant  who 
believeth,  is  better  than  an  idolatress,  although  *>he  please 
you  more.  And  give  not  women  who  believe  in  marriage  to 
the  idolaters,  until  they  believe  :  for  verily  a  servant  who 
is  a  true  believer,  is  better  than  an  idolater,  though  he 
please  you  more.  They  invite  unto  hell  fire,  but  GOD 
inviteth  unto  paradise  and  pardon  through  his  will,  and  de- 
clareth  his  signs  unto  men,  that  they  may  remember.  They 
will  ask  thee  also  concerning  the  courses  of  women :  An- 
swer, They  are  a  pollution :  therefore  separate  yourselves 
from  women  in  their  courses,  and  go  not  near  them,  until 
they  be  cleansed.  But  when  they  are  cleansed,  go  in 
unto  them  as  GOD  hath  c6mmanded  you,  for  GOD  loveth 
those  who  repent,  and  loveth  those  who  are  clean.  Your 
wives  are  your  tillage ;  go  in  therefore  unto  your  tillage 
in  what  manner  soever  ye  will :  and  do  first  some  act 
that  may  be  profitable  unto  your  souls;  and  fear  GOD,  and 
know  that  ye  must  meet  him ;  and  bear  good  tidings  unto 
the  faithful.  Make  not  GOD  the  object  of  your  oaths,  that  ye 
will  deal  justly,  and  be  devout,  and  make  peace  among  men  ; 
for  God  is  he  who  heareth  and  knoweth.  GOD  will  not 
punish  you  for  an  inconsiderate  word  in.  your  oaths ;  but  he 
will  punish  you  for  that  which  your  hearts  have  assented 
unto :  GOD  is  merciful  and  gracious.  They  who  vow  to 
abstain  from  their  wives,  are  allowed  to  wait  four  months : 
but  if  they  go  back  from  their  vow,  verily  GOD  is  gracious 
and  merciful ;  and  if  they  resolve  on  a  divorce,  GOD  is  he 
whc  heareth  and  knoweth.  The  women  who  are  divorced 
chali  wait  concerning  themselves  until  they  have  their 
courses  thrice,  and  it  shall  not  be  lawful  for  them  to  con- 
«eal  that  which  GOD  hath  created  in  their  wornbs,  if  they 
believe  in  GOD  and  the  last  day  ;  and  their  husbands  wii 


78  AL  KORAN. 

•ct  more  justly  to  bring  them  back  at  this  ft'me,  if  they  de- 
sire a  reconciliation.  The  women  ought  also  to  behaw 
towards  their  husbands  in*  like  manner  as  their  husbandt 
should  behave  towards  them,  according  to  what  is  just :  but 
the  men  ought  to  have  a  superiority  over  them.  GOD  is 
mighty  and  wise.  Ye  may  divorce  your  wives  twice ;  and 
then  either  retain  them  with  humanity,  or  dismiss  them  with 
kindness.  But  it  is  not  lawful  for  you  to  take  away  any- 
thing of  what  ye  have  given  them,  unless  both  fear  that 
they  cannot  observe  the  ordinance  of  GOD.  And  if  ye  fear 
that  they  cannot  observe  the  ordinance  of  GOD,  it  shall  be 
no  crime  in  either  of  them  on  account  of  that  for  which  the 
wife  shall  redeem  herself.  These  are  the  ordinances  of 
GOD  ;  therefore  transgress  them  not ;  for  whoever  trans- 
gresseth  the  ordinances  of  GOD,  they  are  unjust  doers.  But 
if  the  husband  divorce  her  a  third  time,  she  shall  not  be  law  • 
ful  for  him  again,  until  she  marry  another  husband.  But  if 
he  also  divorce  her,  it  shall  be  no  crime  in  them  if  they  re- 
turn to  each  other,  if  they  think  they  can  observe  the  ordi- 
nances of  GOD,  and  these  are  the  ordinances  of  GOD,  he 
declareth  them  to  people  of  understanding.  But  when  y« 
divorce  women,  and  they  have  fulfilled  their  prescribed  time, 
either  retain  them  with  humanity,  or  dismiss  them  with  kind- 
ness ;  and  retain  them  not  by  violence,  so  that  ye  transgress ; 
for  he  who  doth  this  surely  injureth  his  own  soul.  And 
make  not  the  signs  of  GOD  a  jest :  but  remember  GOD'S 
favor  towards  you,  and  that  he  hath  sent  down  unto  you  the 
book  of  the  Koran,  and  wisdom  admonishing  you  thereby ; 
and  fear  GOD,  and  know  that  GOD  is  omniscient.  But  when 
ye  have  divorced  your  wives,  and  they  have  fulfilled  their 
prescribed  time,  hinder  them  not  from  marrying  their  hus- 
bands, when  they  have  agreed  among  themselves  according 
to  what  is  honorable.  This  is  given  in  admonition  unto  him 
among  you  who  believeth  in  GOD,  and  the  last  day.  This 
is  most  righteous  for  you,  and  most  pure.  GOD  knoweth, 
but  ye  know  not.  Mothers  after  they  are  divorced  shall  give 
suck  unto  their  children  two  full  years,  to  him  who  desireth 
the  time  of  giving  suck  to  be  completed ;  and  the  father  shall 
be  obliged  to  maintain  them  and  clothe  them  in  the  mean 
time,  according  to  that  which  shall  be  reasonable.  No  per- 
lon  shall  be  obliged  beyond  his  ability  A  mother  shall  not 
be  compelled  to  what  is  unreasonable  on  account  of  her  child 


1L  KORAN.  79 

•or  a  father  on  account  of  his  child.  And  the  heir  of  the 
father  shall  be  obliged  to  do  in  like  manner.  But  if  they 
choose  to  wean  the  child  before  the  end  of  two  yeat t,  by  com- 
mon consent,  and  on  mutual  consideration,  it  shall  be  no 
crime  in  them.  And  if  ye  have  a  mind  to  provide  a  nurse 
for  your  children,  it  shall  be  no  crime  in  you,  in  case  ye 
fully  pay  what  ye  offer  her,  according  to  that  which  is  just. 
And  fear  GOD,  and  know  that  GOD  seeth  whatsoever  ye  do. 
Such  of  you  as  die,  and  leave  wives,  their  wives  must  wait 
concerning  themselves  four  months  and  ten  days,  and  when 
they  shall  have  fulfilled  their  term,  it  shall  be  no  crime  in 
you,  for  that  which  they  shall  do  with  themselves,  according 
to  what  is  reasonable.  GOD  well  knoweth  that  which  ye  do. 
And  it  shall  be  no  crime  in  you,  whether  ye  make  public 
overtures  of  marriage  unto  such  women,  within  the  said  four 
months  and  ten  days,  or  whether  ye  conceal  such  your  de- 
signs in  your  minds :  GOD  knoweth  that  ye  will  remember 
them.  But  make  no  promises  unto  them  privately,  unless 
ye  speak  honorable  words ;  and  resolve  not  on  the  knot  of 
marriage  until  the  prescribed  time  be  accomplished  ;  and 
know  that  GOD  knoweth  that  which  is  in  your  minds,  there- 
fore beware  of  him  and  know  that  GOD  is  gracious  and 
merciful.  It  shall  be  no  crime  in  you,  if  ye  divorce  your 
wives,  so  long  as  ye  have  not  touched  them,  nor  settled  any 
dowry  on  them.  And  provide  for  them  (he  who  is  at  his 
ease  must  provide  according  to  his  circumstances,  and  he 
who  is  straitened  according  to  his  circumstances)  necessaries, 
according  to  what  shall  be  reasonable.  This  is  a  duty  in- 
cumbent on  the  righteous.  But  if  ye  divorce  them  before  ye 
have  touched  them,  and  have  already  settled  a  dowry  on 
them,  ye  shall  give  them  half  of  what  ye  have  settled,  unless 
they  release  any  part,  or  he  release  part  in  whose  hand  the 
knot  of  marriage  is ;  and  if  ye  release  the  whole,  it  will  ap- 
proach nearer  unto  piety.  And  not  forget  liberality  among 
you,  for  GOD  seeth  that  which  ye  do.  Carefully  observe 
the  appointed  prayers,  and  the  middle  prayer,  and  be  assidu- 
ous therein,  with  devotion  towards  GOD.  But  if  ye  fear 
any  danger,  pray  on  foot  or  on  horseback  ;  and  when  ye  are 
safe  remember  GOD,  how  he  hath  taught  you  what  as  yet  ye 
knew  not.  And  such  of  you  as  shall  die  and  leave  wives, 
eught  to  bequeath  their  wives  a  year's  maintenance,  without 
putting  them  out  of  their  houses :  but  if  they  go  out  volun- 


80  AL  KORAN. 

tarily,  it  shall  be  no  crime  in  you,  for  that  which  they  shall 
do  with  themselves,  according  to  what  shall  be  reasonable  ; 
GOD  is  mighty  and  wise.  And  unto  those  who  are  divorced, 
a  reasonable  provision  is  also  due;  this  is  a  duty  incumbent 
on  those  who  fear  GOD.  Thus  GOD  declareth  his  signs 
unto  you,  that  ye  may  understand.  Hast  thou  not  considered 
those,  who  left  their  habitations,  (and  they  were  thousands,) 
for  fear  of  death?1  And  GOD  said  unto  them,  'Die;  then 
he  restored  them  to  life,  for  GOD  is  gracious  towards  man- 
kind ;  but  the  greater  part  of  men  do  not  give  thanks.  Fight 
for  the  religion  of  GOD,  and  know  that  GOD  is  he  who 
heareth  and  knoweth.  Who  is  he  that  will  lend  unto  GOD 
on  good  usury  ?  verily  he  will  double  it  unto  him  manifold ; 
for  GOD  contracteth  and  extendeth  his  hand  as  he  pleaseth, 
and  to  him  shall  ye  return.  Hast  thou  not  considered  the 
assembly  of  the  children  of  Israel,  after  the  time  of  Moses ; 
when  they  said  unto  their  prophet  Samuel,  Set  a  king  over 
us,  that  we  may  fight  for  the  religion  of  GOD.  The  prophet 
answered,  If  ye  are  enjoined  to  go  to  war,  will  ye  be  near 
refusing  to  fight  ?  They  answered,  And  what  should  ail  us 
that  we  should  not  fight  for  the  religion  of  GOD,  seeing  we 
are  dispossessed  of  our  habitations,  and  deprived  of  our 
children  ?  But  when  they  were  enjoined  to  go  to  war,  they 
turned  back,  except  a  few  of  them :  and  GOD  knew  the  un- 
godly. And  their  prophet  said  unto  them,  Verily  GOD  hath 
set  Talut,  king  over  you :  they  answered,  How  shall  he  reign 
over  us,  seeing  we  are  more  worthy  of  the  kingdom  than  he, 
neither  is  he  possessed  of  great  riches  ?  Samuel  said,  Verily 
GOD  hath  chosen  him  before  you,  and  hath  caused  him  to 
increase  in  knowledge  arid  stature,  for  GOD  giveth  his  king- 
dom unto  whom  he  pleaseth;  GOD  is  bounteous  and  wise. 
And  their  prophet  said  unto  them,  Verily  the  sign  of  hia 
kingdom  shall  be,  that  the  ark  shall  come  unto  you  :  therein 
shall  be  tranquillity  from  your  LORD,  and  the  relics  which 
have  been  left  by  the  family  of  Moses  and  the  family  of 
A.aron ;  the  angels  shall  bring  it.2  Verily  this  shall  be  a 
qgn  unto  you,  if  ye  believe.  And  when  Talut  departed  with 
iiis  soldiers  he  said,  Verily  GOD  will  prove  you  by  the  river: 
tor  he  who  drinketh  thereof,  shall  not  be  on  my  side  (but  he 
who  shall  not  taste  thereof  he  shall  be  on  my  side),  except  he 
«vho  drinketh  a  draught  out  of  his  hand.  And  they  drank 
(hereof,  except  a  few  of  them.  And  when  they  had  passed 


AL   KORAN.  81 

the  river,  he  and  those  who  believed  with  him,  they  said,  W« 
have  no  strength  to-day,  against  Jalut  and  his  forces.  But 
they  who  considered  that  they  should  meet  GOD  at  the  resur- 
rection, said,  How  often  hath  a  small  army  discomfited  a 
great  one,  by  the  will  of  GOD  !  and  GOD  is  with  those  who 
patiently  persevere.  And  when  they  went  forth  to  battle 
against  Jalut  and  his  forces,  they  said,  0  LORD,  pour  on  us 
patience,  and  confirm  our  feet,  and  help  us  against  the  unbe- 
lieving people.  Therefore  they  discomfited  them,  by  the  will 
of  GOD,  and  David  slew  Jalut.  And  GOD  gave  him  the 
kingdom  and  wisdom,  and  taught  him  his  will ;  and  if  GOD 
Lad  not  prevented  men,  the  one  by  the  other,  verily  the 
earth  had  been  corrupted :  but  GOD  is  beneficent  towards 
kit  creatures.  These  are  the  signs  of  GOD  :  we  rehearse 
them  unto  thee  with  truth,  and  thou  art  surely  one  of  those 
who  have  been  sent  by  GOD.  These  are  the  apostles; 
we  have  preferred  some  of  them  before  others  ;  some  of  them 
hath  GOD  spoken  unto,  and  hath  exalted  the  degree  of  others 
of  them.  And  we  gave  unto  Jesus  the  son  of  Mary  manifest 
signs,  and  strengthened  him  with  the  holy  spirit.  And  if 
GOD  had  pleased,  they  who  came  after  those  apostles  would 
not  have  contended  among  themselves,  after  manifest  signs 
had  been  shown  unto  them.  But  they  fell  to  variance ;  there- 
fore some  of  them  believed,  and  some  of  them  believed  not ; 
and  if  GOD  had  so  pleased,  they  would  not  have  contended 
among  themselves  ;  but  GOD  doth  what  he  will.  O  true  be- 
lievers, give  alms  of  that  which  we  have  bestowed  unto  you, 
before  the  day  cometh  wherein  there  shall  be  no  merchan- 
dizing, nor  friendship,  nor  intercession.  The  infidels  are  un- 
just doers.  GOD  !  there  is  no  GOD  but  he ;  the  living,  the 
self-subsisting :  neither  slumber  nor  sleep  seizeth  him  ;  to 
him  belongeth  whatsoever  is  in  heaven,  and  on  earth.  Who 
is  he  that  can  intercede  with  him,  but  through  his  good 
pleasure  ?  He  knoweth  that  which  is  past,  and  that  which 
is  to  come  unto  them,  and  they  shall  not  comprehend  any- 
thing of  his  knowledge,  but  so  far  as  he  pleaseth.  His  throne 
is  extended  over  heaven  and  earth,  and  the  preservation  of 
both  is  no  burden  unto  him.1  He  is  the  high,  the  mighty. 
Let  there  be  no  violence  in  religion.  Now  is  right  direction 
manifestly  distinguished  from  deceit :  whoever  therefore  shall 
deny  Tagut,  and  believe  in  GOD,  he  shall  surely  take  hold 
ga  a  strong  handle,  which  shall  not  be  broken  ;  GOD  i*>  h« 


82  AL  KORAN. 

who  heareth  and  seeth.  GOD  ia  the  patron  of  those  wh« 
believe ;  he  shall  lead  them  out  of  darkness  into  light :  but 
as  to  those  who  believe  not,  their  patrons  are  Tagut ;  they 
•hall  lead  them  from  the  light  into  darkness;  they  shall  be 
the  companions  of  hell  fire,  they  shall  remain  therein  for- 
ever. Hast  thou  not  considered  him  who  disputed  with 
Abraham  concerning  his  LORD,  because  GOD  had  given  him 
the  kingdom  ?  When  Abraham  said,  My  LORD  is  he  who 
giveth  life,  and  killeth :  he  answered,  I  give  life,  and  I  kilL 
Abraham  said,  Verily  GOD  bringeth  the  sun  from  the  east. 
now  do  thou  bring  it  from  the  west.  Whereupon  the  infidel 
was  confounded ;  for  GOD  directeth  not  the  ungodly  people. 
Or  hast  thou  not  considered  how  he  behaved  who  passed  by  a 
city  which  had  been  destroyed,  even  to  her  foundations  P1  He 
Baid,  How  shall  GOD  quicken  this  city,  after  she  hath  been 
dead?  And  GOD  caused  him  to  die  for  an  hundred  yeais, 
and  afterwards  raised  him  to  life.  And  GOD  said,  how  long 
hast  thou  tarried  here  ?  He  answered,  A  day,  or  part  of  a 
lay.  GOD  said,  Nay,  thou  hast  tarried  here  a  hundred 
years.  Now  look  on  thy  food  and  thy  drink,  they  are  not 
yet  corrupted ;  and  look  on  thine  ass :  and  this  have  we  done 
that  we  might  make  thee  a  sign  unto  men.  And  look  on  the 
bones  of  thine  ass,  how  we  raise  them,  and  afterwards  clothe 
them  with  flesh.  And  when  this  was  shown  unto  him,  he 
said,  I  know  that  GOD  is  able  to  do  all  things.  And  when 
Abraham  said,  O  LORD,  show  me  how  thou  wilt  raise  the 
dead  ;  GOD  said,  Dost  thou  not  yet  believe  ?  He  answered, 
Yea,  but  /  ask  this  that  my  heart  may  rest  at  ease.  GOD 
said,  take  therefore  four  birds,  and  divide  them ;  then  lay  a 
part  of  them  on  every  mountain ;  then  call  them,  and  they 
shall  come  swiftly  unto  thee :  and  know  that  GOD  is  mighty 
and  wise.2  The  similitude  of  those  who  lay  out  their  sub- 
stance, for  advancing  the  religion  of  GOD,  is  as  a  grain  of 
corn  which  produceth  seven  ears,  and  in  every  ear  an  hun- 
dred grains  ;  for  GOD  giveth  twofold  unto  whom  he  pleaseth . 
GOD  is  bounteous  and  wise.  They  who  lay  out  their  sub- 
stance for  the  religion  of  GOD,  and  afterwards  follow  not 
what  they  have  so  laid  out  by  reproaches  or  mischief,  they 
•hall  have  their  reward  with  their  LORD  ;  upon  them  shall 
DO  fear  come,  neither  shall  they  be  grieved.  A  fair  speech 
and  to  forgive,  is  better  than  alms  followed  by  mischief 
GOD  is  ric^  and  merciful.  O  irue  believers,  make  not  youi 


AL   KORAN.  83 

alms  of  none  effect  by  reproaching,  or  mischief,  as  he  wh« 
layeth  out  what  he  hath  to  appear  unto  men  to  give  alms, 
and  believeth  not  in  GOD  and  the  last  day.  The  likeness 
of  such  a  one  is  as  a  flint  covered  with  earth,  on  which 
•  violent  rain  falleth,  and  leaveth  it  hard.  They  cannot 
prosper  in  anything  which  they  have  gained,  for  GOD 
direcUith  not  the  unbelieving  people.  And  the  likeness  of 
those  who  lay  out  their  substance  from  a  desire  to  pleaae 
GOD,  and  for  an  establishment  for  their  souls,  is  as  a  garden 
on  a  hill,  on  which  a  violent  rain  falleth,  and  it  bringeth 
forth  its  fruits  twofold ;  and  if  a  violent  rain  falleth  not  on 
it,  yet  the  dew  falleth  thereon :  and  GOD  seeth  that  which 
ye  do.  Doth  any  of  you  desire  to  have  a  garden  of  palm- 
trees  and  vines,  through  which  rivers  flow,  wherein  ye  may 
have  all  kinds  of  fruits,  and  that  he  may  attain  to  old  age, 
and  have  a  weak  offspring  ?  then  a  violent  fiery  wind  shall 
strike  it,  so  that  it  shall  be  burned.  Thus  GOD  declareth 
his  signs  unto  you,  that  ye  may  consider.  O  true  believers, 
bestow  alms  of  the  good  things  which  ye  have  gained,  and 
of  that  which  we  have  produced  for  you  out  of  the  earth, 
and  choose  not  the  bad  tliereof,  to  give  it  in  alms,  such  as  ye 
would  not  accept  yourselves,  otherwise  than  by  connivance: 
and  know  that  GOD  is  rich  and  worthy  to  be  praised.  The 
devil  threateneth  you  with  poverty,  and  commandeth  you 
filthy  covetousness ;  but  GOD  promiseth  you  pardon  from 
himself  and  abundance :  GOD  is  bounteous  and  wise.  He 
giveth  wisdom  unto  whom  he  pleaseth ;  and  he  unto  whom 
wisdom  is  given  hath  received  much  good :  but  none  will 
consider,  except  the  wise  of  heart.  And  whatever  alms  ye 
shall  give,  or  whatever  vow  ye  shall  vow,  verily  GOD  know- 
3th  it ;  but  the  ungodly  shall  have  none  to  help  them.  If 
ye  make  your  alms  to  appear,  it  is  well ;  but  if  ye  conceal 
them,  and  give  them  unto  the  poor,  this  will  be  better  for 
jou,  and  will  atone  for  your  sins  ;  and  GOD  is  well  informed 
of  that  which  ye  do.  The  direction  of  them  belongeth  not 
unto  thee  ;  but  GOD  directeth  whom  he  pleaseth.  The  good 
that  ye  shall  give  in  alms  shatt  redound  unto  yourselves  ;  and 
ye  shall  not  give  unless  out  of  desire  of  seeing  the  face  of 
GOD.  And  what  good  thing  ye  shall  give  in  alms,  it  shall 
be  repaid  you,  and  ye  shall  not  be  treated  unjustly  ;  unto  the 
poor  who  are  wholly  employed  in  fighting  for  the  religion  of 
GOD,  and  cannot  go  to  and  fro  on  the  earth  ;  whom  th« 


64  AL  KORAN. 

ignorant  man  thinketh  rich,  because  of  their  modesty :  thoo 
ghalt  know  them  by  this  mark,  they  ask  not  men  with  im- 
portunity ;  and  what  good  ye  shall  give  in  alms,  verily  GOD 
knoweth  it.  They  who  distribute  alms  of  their  substance 
night  and  day,  in  private  and  in  public,  shall  have  their  re- 
ward with  the  LORD  ;  on  them  shall  no  fear  come,  neither 
shall  they  be  grieved.  They  who  devour  usury  shall  not  arise 
from  the  dead,  but  as  he  ariseth  whom  Satan  hath  infected 
by  a  touch :  this  shall  happen  to  them  because  they  say, 
Truly  selling  is  but  as  usury  :  and  yet  GOD  hath  permitted 
selling  and  forbidden  usury.  He  therefore  who  when  there 
cometh  unto  him  an  admonition  from  his  LORD  abstainetb 
from  usury  for  the  future,  shall  have  what  is  past  forgiven 
him,  and  his  affair  belongeth  unto  GOD.  But  whoever  re- 
turneth  to  usury,  they  shall.be  the  companions  of  hell  fire, 
they  shall  continue  therein  forever.  GOD  shall  take  his 
blessing  from  usury,  and  shall  increase  alms :  for  GOD  loveth 
no  infidel,  or  ungodly  person.  But  they  who  believe  and  do 
that  which  is  right,  and  observe  the  stated  times  of  prayer, 
and  pay  their  legal  alms,  they  shall  have  their  reward  with 
their  LORD  :  there  shall  come  no  fear  on  them,  neither  shall 
they  be  grieved.  O  true  believers,  fear  GOD,  and  remit 
that  which  remaineth  of  usury,  if  ye  really  believe ;  but  if 
ye  do  it  not,  hearken  unto  war,  which  is  declared  against  you 
from  GOD  and  his  apostle  :  yet  if  ye  repent,  ye  shall  have 
the  capital  of  your  money.  Deal  not  unjustly  with  others, 
and  ye  shall  not  be  dealt  with  unjustly.  If  there  be  any 
debtor  under  a  difficulty  of  paying  his  debt,  let  his  creditor 
wait  till  it  be  easy  for  him  to  do  it ;  but  if  ye  remit  it  as 
alms,  it  will  be  better  for  you,  if  ye  knew  it.  And  fear  the  day 
wherein  ye  shall  return  unto  GOD  ;  then  shall  every  soul  be 
paid  what  it  hath  gained,  and  they  shall  not  be  treated  un- 
justly. O  true  believers,  when  ye  bind  yourselves  one  to 
the  other  in  a  debt  for  a  certain  time,  write  it  down ;  and  let 
a  writer  write  between  you  according  to  justice,  and  let  not 
the  writer  refuse  writing  according  to  what  GOD  hath  taught 
him ;  but  let  him  write,  and  let  him  who  oweth  the  debt  dic- 
tate, and  let  him  fear  GOD  his  LORD,  and  not  diminish  aught 
thereof.  But  if  he  who  oweth  the  debt  be  foolish,  or  weak, 
or  be  not  able  to  dictate  himself,  let  his  agent  dictate  accord- 
ing tc  equity ;  and  call  to  witness  two  witnesses  of  your 
neighboring  men ;  but  if  there  be  not  two  men,  let  there  be  » 


AL   KORAN.  85 

man  and  two  women  of  those  whom  ye  shall  choose  for  wit- 
nesses :  if  one  of  those  women  should  mistake,  the  other  of 
them  will  cause  her  to  recollect.  And  the  witnesses  shall 
not  refuse,  whensoever  they  shall  be  called.  And  disdain 
not  to  write  it  down,  be  it  a  large  debt,  or  be  it  a  small  one, 
antil  its  time  of  payment :  this  will  be  more  just  in  the  sight 
of  GOD,  and  more  right  for  bearing  witness,  and  more  easy, 
that  ye  may  not  doubt.  But  if  it  be  a  present  bargain  which 
ye  transact  between  yourselves,  it  shall  be  no  crime  in  you, 
if  ye  write  it  not  down.  And  take  witnesses  when  ye  sell 
one  to  the  other,  and  let  no  harm  be  done  to  the  writer,  nor 
to  the  witness  ;  which  if  ye  do,  it  will  surely  be  injustice  in 
you:  and  fear  GOD,  and  GOD  will  instruct  you,  for  GOD 
knoweth  all  things.  And  if  ye  be  on  a  journey,  and  find  no 
writer,  let  pledges  be  taken :  but  if  one  of  you  trust  the  other, 
let  him  who  is  trusted  return  what  he  is  trusted  with,  and  fear 
GOD  his  LORD.  And  conceal  not  the  testimony,  for  he  who 
concealeth  it  hath  surely  a  wicked  heart :  GOD  knoweth  that 
which  ye  do.  Whatever  is  in  heaven  and  on  earth  is  GOD'S  : 
and  whether  ye  manifest  that  which  is  in  your  minds,  or  con- 
ceal it,  GOD  will  call  you  to  account  for  it,  and  will  forgive 
whom  he  pleaseth,  and  will  punish  whom  he  pleaseth,  for 
GOD  is  almighty.  The  apostle  believeth  in  that  which  hath 
been  sent  down  unto  him  from  his  LORD,  and  the  faithful 
also.  Every  one  of  them  believeth  in  GOD,  and  his  angels, 
and  his  scriptures,  and  his  apostles  :  we  make  no  distinction 
at  all  between  his  apostles.  And  they  say,  We  have  heard, 
and  do  obey :  we  implore  thy  mercy,  0  LORD,  for  unto  thea 
must  we  return.  GOD  will  not  force  any  one  beyond  its 
capacity  :  it  shall  have  the  good  which  it  gaineth,  and  it  shall 
suffer  the  evil  which  it  gaineth.  O  LORD,  punish  us  not,  if 
we  forget,  or  act  sinfully :  O  LORD,  lay  not  on  us  a  burden 
hike  that  which  thou  hast  laid  on  those  who  have  been  before 
us ;  neither  make  us,  O  LORD,  to  bear  what  we  have  not 
strength  to  bear,  but  be  favorable  unto  us,  and  spare  us,  and 
be  merciful  unto  us.  Thou  art  our  patron,  help  us  therefore 
against  the  unbelieving  nations. 


86  AX   KORAJST. 

CHAPTER  IIL 

DrriTLBD,  THE    FAMILY  OF   IMRAN  ;   REVEALED  AT  MED  Of  X 
IN    THE    NAME    OF   THE    HOST    MERCIFUL   GOD. 

AL.  M.  There  is  no  GOD  but  GOD,  the  living,  the  self- 
subsisting:  he  hath  sent  down  unto  thee  the  book  of  tht 
Koran  with  truth,  confirming  that  which  was  revealed  before 
it ;  for  he  had  formerly  sent  down  the  law,  and  the  gospel  a 
direction  unto  men  ;  and  he  had  also  sent  down  the  distinc- 
tion between  good  and  evil.  Verily  those  who  believe  not 
the  signs  of  GOD  shall  suffer  a  grievous  punishment ;  for 
GOD  is  mighty,  able  to  revenge.  Surely  nothing  is  hidden 
from  GOD,  of  that  which  is  on  earth,  or  in  heaven :  it  is  he 
who  fbrmeth  you  in  the  wombs,  as  he  pleaseth  ;  there  is  no 
GOD  but  he.  the  mighty,  the  wise.  It  is  he  who  hath  sent 
down  unto  thee  the  book,  wherein  are  some  verses  clear  to 
be  understood,  they  are  the  foundation  of  the  book  ;  and 
others  are  parabolical.  But  they  whose  hearts  are  perverse 
will  follow  that  which  is  parabolical  therein,  out  of  love  of 
schism,  and  a  desire  of  the  interpretation  thereof;  yet  none 
knoweth  the  interpretation  thereof,  except  God.  But  they 
who  are  well  grounded  in  the  knowledge  say,  We  believe 
therein,  the  whole  is  from  our  LORD  ;  and  none  will  con- 
sider except  the  prudent.  O  LORD,  cause  not  our  hearts  to 
swerve  from  truth,  after  thou  hast  directed  us  :  and  give  us 
from  thee  mercy,  for  thou  art  he  who  giveth.  O  LORD, 
thou  shalt  surely  gather  mankind  together,  unto  a  day  of 
resurrection :  there  is  no  doubt  of  it,  for  GOD  will  not  be 
contrary  to  the  promise.  As  for  the  infidels,  their  wealth 
shall  not  profit  them  anything,  nor  their  children,  against 
GOD  :  they  shall  be  the  fuel  of  hell  fire.  According  to  the 
wont  of  the  people  of  Pharaoh,  and  of  those  who  went  before 
them,  they  charged  our  signs  with  a  lie;  but  GOD  caught 
them  in  their  wickedness,  and  GOD  is  severe  in  punishing. 
Say  unto  those  who  believe  not,  Ye  shall  be  overcome,  and 
thrown  together  into  hell ;  and  an  unhappy  couch  shall  it  be. 
Ye  have  already  had  a  miracle  shown  you  in  two  armies, 
which  attacked  each  other :  one  army  fought  for  GOD'S  true 
religion,  but  the  other  were  infidels ;  they  saw  the  faithful 


AL  KORAN.  87 

twice  as  many  as  themselves  in  their  eyesight ;  for  Goi 
strengthened  with  his  help  whom  he  pleaseth.  Surely  herein 
was  an  example  unto  men  of  understanding.1  The  love  and 
eager  desire  of  wives,  and  children,  and  sums  heaped  up  of 
gold  and  silver,  and  excellent  horses,  and  cattle,  and  land,  is 
prepared  for  men :  this  is  the  provision  of  the  present  life ; 
but  unto  GOD  shall  be  the  most  excellent  return.  Say,  Shall 
I  declare  unto  you  better  things  than  this  ?  For  those  who 
are  devout  are  prepared  with  their  LORD  gardens  through 
which  rivers  flow  ;  therein  shall  they  continue  forever :  and 
they  shall  enjoy  wives  free  from  impurity,  and  the  favor  of 
GOD  ;  for  GOD  regardeth  his  servants  who  say,  0  LORD, 
we  do  sincerely  believe ;  forgive  us  therefore  our  sins,  and 
deliver  us  from  the  pain  of  hell  fire :  the  patient,  and  the 
lovers  of  truth,  and  the  devout,  and  the  almsgivers,  and  those 
who  ask  pardon  early  in  the  morning.  GOD  hath  borne  wit- 
ness that  there  is  no  GOD  but  he ;  and  the  angels,  and  those 
who  are  endowed  with  wisdom,  profess  the  same  ;  who  exe- 
cuteth  righteousness  ;  there  is  no  GOD  but  he ;  the  mighty, 
the  wise.  Verily  the  true  religion  in  the  sight  of  GOD  is 
Islam  ;  and  they  who  had  received  the  scriptures  dissented 
not  therefrom,  until  after  the  knowledge  of  God's  unity  had 
come  unto  them,  out  of  envy  among  themselves ;  but  whoso- 
ever believeth  not  in  the  signs  of  GOD,  verily  GOD  will  be 
swift  in  bringing  him  to  account.  If  they  dispute  with  thee, 
say,  I  have  resigned  myself  unto  GOD,  and  he  who  followeth 
me  doth  the  same  ;  and  say  unto  them  who  have  received  the 
scriptures,  and  to  the  ignorant,  Do  ye  profess  the  religion  of 
Islam  ?  now  if  they  embrace  Islam,  they  are  surely  directed ; 
but  if  they  turn  their  backs,  verily  unto  thee  belongeth  preach- 
ing only  ;  for  GOD  regardeth  his  servants.  And  unto  those 
who  believe  not  in  the  signs  of  GOD,  and  slay  the  prophet! 
without  a  cause,  and  put  those  men  to  death  who  teach  jus- 
tice ;  denounce  unto  them  a  painful  punishment.  These  are 
they  whose  works  perish  in  this  world,  and  in  that  which  is 
to  come ;  and  they  shall  have  none  to  help  them.  Hast  thou 
not  observed  those  unto  whom  part  of  the  scripture  was 
given  ?  They  were  called  unto  the  book  of  GOD,  that  it 
might  judge  between  them  ;  then  some  of  them  turned  their 
backs,  and  retired  afar  off.  This  they  did  because  they  said, 
the  fire  of  hell  shall  by  no  means  touch  us,  but  for  a  certain 
number  of  days ;  and  that  which  they  had  falsely  devised 


88  AL  KORAN. 

bath  deceived  them  in  their  religion.  How  then  vnfl  ii  6t 
with  them,  when  we  shall  gather  them  together  at  the  day  of 
judgment,  of  which  there  is  no  doubt ;  and  every  soul  shali 
be  paid  that  which  it  hath  gained,  neither  shall  they  be 
treated  unjustly?  Say,  O  GOD,  who  possesses!  the  king- 
dom ;  thou  givest  the  kingdom  unto  whom  thou  wilt,  and 
thou  takest  away  the  kingdom  from  whom  thou  wilt :  thou 
txaltest  whom  thou  wilt,  and  thou  humblest  whom  thou 
wilt :  in  thy  hand  is  good,  for  thou  art  almighty.  Thou 
makest  the  night  to  succeed  the  day  :  thou  bringest  forth  the 
living  out  of  the  dead,  and  thou  bringest  forth  the  dead  out 
of  the  living ;  and  providest  food  for  whom  thou  wilt  without 
measure.  Let  not  the  faithful  take  the  infidels  for  their  pro- 
tectors, rather  than  the  faithful :  he  who  doth  this  shall  not 
be  protected  of  GOD  at  all ;  unless  ye  fear  any  danger  from 
them :  but  GOD  warneth  you  to  beware  of  himself;  for  unto 
GOD  must  ye  return.  Say,  Whether  ye  conceal  that  which 
is  in  your  breasts,  or  whether  ye  declare  it,  GOD  knoweth 
it ;  for  he  knoweth  whatever  is  in  heaven,  and  whatever  is 
on  earth :  GOD  is  almighty.  On  the  last  day  every  soul 
shall  find  the  good  which  it  hath  wrought,  present ;  and  the 
evil  which  it  hath  wrought,  it  shall  wish  that  between  itself 
and  that  were  a  wide  distance :  but  GOD  warneth  you  to 
beware  of  himself;  for  GOD  is  gracious  unto  his  servants. 
Say,  If  ye  love  GOD,  follow  me :  then  GOD  shall  love  you, 
and  forgive  you  your  sins ;  for  GOD  is  gracious  and  merci- 
ful. Say,  Obey  GOD,  and  his  apostle ;  but  if  ye  go  back, 
verily  GOD  loveth  not  the  unbelievers.  GOD  hath  surely 
chosen  Adam,  and  Noah,  and  the  family  of  Abraham,  and 
the  family  of  Imran  above  the  rest  of  the  world;  a  race 
descending  the  one  from  the  other :  GOD  is  he  who  heareth 
and  knoweth.  Remember  when  the  wife  of  Imran  said, 
LORD,  verily  I  have  vowed  unto  thee  that  which  is  in  my 
womb,  to  be  dedicated  to  thy  service  ;  accept  it  therefore  of 
me  ;  for  thou  art  he  who  heareth  and  knoweth.  And  when 
she  was  delivered  of  it,  she  said,  LORD,  verily  I  have 
brought  forth  a  female  (and  GOD  well  knew  what  she  had 
brought  forth),  and  a  male  is  not  as  a  female.  I  have  called 
her  MART  ;  and  I  commend  her  to  thy  protection,  and  also 
her  issue,  against  Satan  driven  away  with  stones.1  Therefore 
the  LORD  accepted  her  with  a  gracious  acceptance,  and  caused 
her  to  bear  an  excellent  offspring.  And  Zacharias  took  care 


AL  KORAN.  89 

of  the  child ;  whenever  Zacharias  went  into  the  chamber  to 
her,  he  found  provisions  with  her:  and  he  said,  O  Mary, 
whence  hadst  thou  this  ?  she  answered,  This  is  from  GOD  . 
for  GOD  provideth  for  whom  he  pleaseth  without  measure. 
There  Zacharias  called  on  his  LORD,  and  said,  LORD,  give  me 
from  thee  a  good  offspring,  for  thou  art  the  hearer  of  prayer. 
And  the  angels  called  to  him,  while  he  stood  praying  in  the 
chamber,  saying,  Verily  GOD  promiseth  thee  a  son  named 
John,  who  shall  bear  witness  to  the  Word  which  cometh  from 
GOD  ;  an  honorable  person,  chaste,  and  one  of  the  righteous 
rophets.  He  answered,  LORD,  how  shall  I  have  a  son, 
when  old  age  hath  overtaken  me,  and  my  wife  is  barren  ? 
The  angel  said,  So  GOD  doth  that  which  he  pleaseth.  Zach- 
arias answered,  LORD,  give  me  a  sign.  The  angel  said, 
Thy  sign  shall  be,  that  thou  shalt  speak  unto  no  man  for 
three  days,  otherwise  than  by  gesture  :  remember  thy  LORD 
often,  and  praise  him  evening  and  morning.  And  when  the 
angels  said,  O  Mary,  verily  GOD  hath  chosen  thee,  and  hath 
purified  thee  and  hath  chosen  thee  above  all  the  women  of 
the  world :  O  Mary,  be  devout  towards  thy  LORD,  and  wor- 
ship, and  bow  down  with  those  who  bow  down.  This  is  a 
secret  history :  we  reveal  it  unto  thee,  although  thou  wast 
not  present  with  them  when  they  threw  in  their  rods  to  cast 
lots  which  of  them  should  have  the  education  of  Mary ;.  nei- 
ther wast  thou  with  them,  when  they  strove  among  them- 
selves. When  the  angels  said ;  0  Mary,  verily  GOD  sendeth 
thee  good  tidings,  that  ihou  shah  bear  the  Word  proceeding 
from  himself;  his  name  shall  be  CHRIST  JESUS  the  son  of 
Mary,  honorable  in  this  world  and  in  the  world  to  come, 
and  one  of  those  who  approach  near  to  the  presence  of  GOD 
and  he  shall  speak  unto  men  in  the  cradle^and  when  he  is 
grown  up ;  and  he  shall  be  one  of  the  righteous :  she  an- 
swered, LORD,  how  shall  I  have  a  son,  since  a  man  hath  not 
touched  me  ?  the  angel  said,  So  GOD  createth  that  which  he 
pleaseth :  when  he  decreeth  a  thing,  he  only  saith  unto  it, 
Be,  and  it  is :  GOD  shall  teach  him  the  scripture,  and  wis- 
dom, and  the  law,  and  the  gospel ;  and  shall  appoint  him  hit 
apostle  to  the  children  of  Israel ;  and  he  shall  say,  Verily  I 
come  unto  you  with  a  sign  from  your  LORD  ;  for  I  will 
make  before  you,  of  clay,  as  it  were  the  figure  of  a  bird  ; 
«iien  I  will  breathe  thereon,  and  it  shall  become  a  bird,  by 
the  permission  of  GOD  ;  and  I  will  beal  him  that  Lath  been 


90  AL  KORAN. 

blind  from  his  birth ;  and  the  leper :  and  I  will  raise  th« 
dead  by  the  permission  of  GOD  :  and  I  will  prophesy  untc 
you  what  ye  eat,  and  what  ye  lay  up  for  store  in  your  houses. 
Verily  herein  will  be  a  sign  unto  you,  if  ye  believe. l  And 
1  come  to  confirm  the  law  which  was  revealed  before  me  and 
to  allow  unto  you  as  lawful  part  of  that  which  hath  been  for- 
bidden you :  and  I  come  unto  you  with  a  sign  from  ycur 
LORD  ;  therefore  fear  GOD,  and  obey  me.  Verily  GOD  is 
my  LORD,  and  your  LORD  ;  therefore  serve  him.  This  is 
the  right  way.  But  when  Jesus  perceived  their  unbelief,  he 
said,  Who  will  be  my  helpers  towards  GOD  ?  The  apostles 
answered,  We  witt  be  the  helpers  of  GOD  ;  we  believe  in 
GOD,  and  do  thou  bear  witness  that  we  are  true  believers. 
O  LORD,  we  believe  in  that  which  thou  hast  sent  down,  and 
we  have  followed  thy  apostle  ;  write  us  down  therefore  with 
those  who  bear  witness  of  him.  And  the  Jews  devised  a 
stratagem  against  him  ;  but  GOD  devised  a  stratagem  against 
them  ;  and  GOD  is  the  best  deviser  of  stratagems. 2  When 
GOD  said,  O  Jesus,  verily  I  will  cause  thee  to  die,  and  I  will 
take  thee  up  unto  me,  and  I  will  deliver  thee  from  the  un- 
believers ;  and  I  will  place  those  who  follow  thee  above  th* 
unbelievers,  until  the  day  of  resurrection  :  then  unto  me  shall 
ye  return,  and  I  will  judge  between  you  of  that  concerning 
which  ye  disagree.  Moreover,  as  for  the  infidels,  I  will 
punish  them  with  a  grievous  punishment  in  this  world,  and 
in  that  which  is  to  come ;  and  there  shall  be  none  to  help 
them.  But  they  who  believe,  and  do  that  which  is  right,  he 
shall  give  them  their  reward  :  for  GOD  loveth  not  the  wicked 
doers.  These  signs  and  this  prudent  admonition  do  we  re- 
hearse unto  thee.  Verily  the  likeness  of  Jesus  in  the  sight 
of  GOD  is  as  the  likeness  of  Adam  ;  he  created  him  out  of 
the  dust,  and  then  said  unto  him,  Be  ;  and  he  was.  This  is 
the  truth  from  thy  LORD  ;  be  not  therefore  one  of  those  who 
doubt ;  and  whoever  shall  dispute  with  thee,  concerning  him, 
after  the  knowledge  which  hath  been  given  thee,  say  unto 
them,  Come,  let  us  call  together  our  sons  and  your  sons,  and 
our  wives  and  your  wives,  and  ourselves  and  yourselves ; 
then  let  us  make  imprecations,  and  lay  the  curse  of  GOD  on 
those  who  lie.  Verily  this  is  a  true  history :  and  there  is  no 
GOD,  but  GOD  ;  and  GOD  is  most  mighty  and  wise.  If 
they  turn  back,  GOD  well  knoweth  the  evil  doers.  Say,  O 
ye  who  have  received  the  scripture,  come  to  a  just  determi- 


AL  KORAN.  91 

nation  between  us  and  you ;  that  we  worship  not  any  except 
GOD,  and  associate  no  creature  with  him  ;  and  that  the  one 
of  us  take  not  the  other  for  lords,  beside  GOD.  But  if  thej 
turn  back,  say,  Bear  witness  that  we  are  true  believers.  0 
ye  to  whom  the  scriptures  have  been  given,  why  do  ye  dis- 
pute concerning  Abraham,  since  the  Law  and  ne  Gospel 
were  not  sent  down  until  after  him  ?  Do  ye  not  therefore 
understand  ?  Behold  ye  are  they  who  dispute  concerning 
that  which  ye  have  some  knowledge  in  ;  why  therefore  do 
you  dispute  concerning  that  which  ye  have  no  knowledge  of? 
GOD  knoweth,  but  ye  know  not.  Abraham  was  neither  a 
Jew  nor  a  Christian ;  but  he  was  of  the  true  religion,  one 
resigned  unto  God,  and  was  not  of  the  number  of  the  idolaters. 
Verily  the  men  who  are  the  nearest  of  kin  unto  Abraham 
are  they  who  follow  him ;  and  this  prophet,  and  they  who 
believed  on  him :  GOD  is  the  patron  of  the  faithful.  Some 
of  those  who  have  received  the  scriptures  desire  to  seduce 
you  ;  but  they  seduce  themselves  only,  and  they  perceive  it 
not.  O  ye  who  have  received  the  scriptures,  why  do  ye  not 
believe  in  the  signs  of  GOD,  since  ye  are  witnesses  of  them  ? 
O  ye  who  have  received  the  scriptures,  why  do  you  clothe 
truth  with  vanity,  and  knowingly  hide  the  truth  ?  And  some 
of  those  to  whom  the  scriptures  were  given  say,  Believe  in 
that  which  hath  been  sent  down  unto  those  who  believe,  in 
the  beginning  of  the  day  ;  and  deny  it  in  the  end  thereof;  that 
they  may  go  back  from  their  faith ;  and  believe  him  only 
who  followeth  your  religion.  Say,  Verily  the  true  direction 
is  the  direction  of  GOD,  that  there  may  be  given  unto  some 
other  a  revelation  like  unto  what  hath  been  given  unto  you. 
Will  they  dispute  with  you  before  your  Lord?  Say,  Surely 
excellence  is  in  the  hand  of  GOD,  he  giveth  it  unto  whom  he 
pleaseth ;  GOD  is  bounteous  and  wise :  he  will  confer  pecul- 
iar mercy  on  whom  he  pleaseth ;  for  GOD  is  endued  with 
great  beneficence.  There  is  of  those  who  have  received  the 
scriptures,  unto  whom  if  thou  trust  a  talent  he  will  restore  it 
unto  thee ;  and  there  is  also  of  them,  unto  whom  if  thou  trust 
a  dinar,  he  will  not  restore  it  unto  thee,  unless  thou  stand 
over  him  continually  with  great  urgency.  This  they  do,  be- 
cause they  say,  We  are  not  obliged  to  observe  justice  with 
the  heathen  :  but  they  utter  a  lie  against  GOD,  knowingly. 
Yea,  whoso  keepeth  his  covenant,  and  feareth  God,  GOD 
•urely  loveth  those  who  fear  him.  But  they  who  make  mer- 


92  AL  KORAN. 

chandLse  of  GOD'S  covenant,  and  of  their  oaths,  for  a  small 
price,  shall  have  no  portion  in  the  next  life,  neither  shall 
GOD  speak  to  them  or  regard  them  on  the  day  of  resur- 
rection, nor  shall  he  cleanse  them ;  but  they  shall  suffer  a 
grievous  punishment.  And  there  are  certainly  some  of  them 
who  read  the  scriptures  perversely,  that  ye  may  think  what 
they  read  to  be  really  in  the  scriptures,  yet  it  is  not  in  the 
scripture ;  and  they  say,  This  is  from  GOD  ;  but  it  is  not 
from  GOD  :  and  they  speak  that  which  is  false  concerning 
GOD,  against  their  own  knowledge.  It  is  not  jit  for  a  man, 
that  GOD  should  give  him  a  book  of  revelations,  and  wisdom, 
and  prophecy ;  and  then  he  should  say  unto  men,  Be  ye 
worshippers  of  me,  besides  GOD  ;  but  he  ought  to  say,  Be  ye 
perfect  in  knowledge  and  in  works,  since  ye  know  the  scrip- 
tures, and  exercise  yourselves  therein.  GOD  hath  not  com- 
manded you  to  take  the  angels  and  the  prophets  for  your 
lords :  Will  he  command  you  to  become  infidels,  after  ye 
have  been  true  believers  ?  And  remember  when  GOD  ac- 
cepted the  covenant  of  the  prophets,  saying,  TJiis  verily  is 
the  scripture  and  the  wisdom  which  I  have  given  you :  here- 
after shall  an  apostle  come  unto  you,  confirming  the  truth  of 
that  scripture  which  is  with  you ;  ye  shall  surely  believe  in 
him,  and  ye  shall  assist  him.  GOD  said,  Are  ye  firmly  re- 
solved, and  do  ye  accept  my  covenant  on  this  condition  ? 
They  answered,  We  are  firmly  resolved :  God  said,  Be  ye 
therefore  witnesses ;  and  I  also  bear  witness  with  you  :  and 
whosoever  turneth  back  after  this,  they  are  surely  the  trans- 
gressors. Do  they  therefore  seek  any  other  religion  but 
GOD'S  ?  since  to  him  is  resigned  whosoever  is  in  heaven  or 
on  earth,  voluntarily  or  of  force :  and  to  him  shall  they  re- 
turn. Say,  We  believe  in  GOD,  and  that  which  hath  been 
sent  down  unto  us,  and  that  which  was  sent  down  unto 
Abraham,  and  Ismael,  and  Isaac,  and  Jacob,  and  the  tribes, 
and  that  which  was  delivered  to  Moses,  and  Jesus,  and  the 
prophets  from  their  LORD  ;  we  make  no  distinction  between 
any  of  them ;  and  to  him  are  we  resigned.  Whoever  fol- 
loweth  any  other  religion  than  Islam,  it  shall  not  be  accepted 
of  him :  and  in  the  next  life  he  shall  be  of  those  who  perish. 
How  shall  GOD  direct  men  who  have  become  infidels  after 
they  had  believed,  and  borne  witness  that  the  apostle  wa* 
true,  and  manifV-t  declarations  of  the  divine  will  had  come 
unto  them?  for  (ioo  directeth  not  the  ungodly  people.  Theu 


AL  KORAN.  93 

reward  shall  be,  that  on  them  shall  foil  the  curse  of  GOD 
and  of  angels,  and  of  all  mankind :  they  shall  remain  under 
the  same  forever ;  their  torment  shall  not  be  mitigated, 
neither  shall  they  be  regarded ;  except  those  who  repent 
after  this,  and  amend ;  for  GOD  is  gracious  and  merciful 
Moreover  they  who  become  infidels  after  they  have  believed, 
and  yet  increase  in  infidelity,  their  repentance  shall  in  no 
wise  be  accepted,  and  they  are  those  who  go  astray.  Vorily 
they  who  believe  not,  and  die  in  their  unbelief,  the  world  full 
of  gold  shall  in  nowise  be  accepted  from  any  of  them,  even 
though  he  should  give  it  for  his  ransom  ;  they  shall  suffer 
a  grievous  punishment,  and  they  shall  have  none  to  help 
them  Ye  will  never  attain  unto  righteousness  until  ye  give 
in  alms  of  that  which  ye  love :  and  whatever  ye  give,  GOD 
knoweth  it.  All  food  was  permitted  unto  the  children  of 
Israel,  except  what  Israel  forbade  unto  himself,  before  the 
Pentateuch  was  sent  down.  Say  unto  the  Jews,  Bring  hither 
the  Pentateuch  and  read  it,  if  ye  speak  truth.  Whoever 
therefore  contriveth  a  lie  against  GOD  after  this,  they  will 
be  evil  doers.  Say,  GOD  is  true :  follow  ye  therefore  the 
religion  of  Abraham  the  orthodox ;  for  he  was  no  idolater. 
Verily  the  first  house  appointed  unto  men  to  worship  in  was 
that  which  was  in  Becca ;  blessed,  and  a  direction  to  all 
creatures.  Therein  are  manifest  signs :  the  place  where 
Abraham  stood ;  and  whoever  entereth  therein,  shall  be  safe. 
And  it  is  a  duty  towards  GOD,  incumbent  on  those  who  are 
able  to  go  thither,  to  visit  this  house  ;  but  whosoever  disbe- 
lieveth,  verily  GOD  needeth  not  the  service  of  any  creature. 
Say,  0  ye  who  have  received  the  scriptures,  why  do  ye  not 
believe  in  the  signs  of  GOD  ?  Say,  O  ye  who  have  received 
the  scriptures,  why  do  ye  keep  back  from  the  way  of  GOD, 
him  who  believeth  ?  Ye  seek  to  make  it  crooked,  and  yet 
are  witnesses  that  it  is  the  right:  but  GOD  will  not  be  un- 
mindful of  what  ye  do.  O  true  believers,  if  ye  obey  some 
of  those  who  have  received  the  scripiure,  they  will  render 
you  infidels,  after  ye  have  believed ;  *nd  how  can  ye  be  in- 
fidels, when  the  signs  of  GOD  are  read  unto  you,  and  hia 
apostle  is  among  you  ?  But  he  who  cleaveth  firmly  unto 
GOD,  is  already  directed  in  the  right  way.  O  believers,  fear 
GOD  with  his  true  fear ;  and  die  not  unless  ye  also  be  true 
oelievers.  And  cleave  all  of  you  unto  the  covenant  of  GOD, 
»nd  depart  not  from  it,  and  remember  the  favor  of  GOD 


94  AL  KORAJS. 

towards  you  :  since  ye  were  enemies,  and  he  reconciled  youi 
hearts,  and  ye  became  companions  and  brethren  by  his  fa- 
vor:  and  ye  were  on  the  brink  of  a  pit  of  fire,  and  he  de- 
livered you  thence.  Thus  GOD  declareth  unto  you  his  signs, 
that  ye  may  be  directed.  Let  there  be  people  among  you 
who  invite  to  the  best  religion  ;  and  command  that  which  ia 
just,  and  forbid  that  which  is  evil ;  and  they  shall  be  happy. 
And  be  not  as  they  who  are  divided,  and  disagree  in  mattert 
of  religion,  after  manifest  proofs  have  been  brought  unto 
them  :  they  shall  suffer  a  great  torment.  On  the  day  of  res- 
urrection some  faces  shall  become  white,  and  other  faces  shall 
become  black.  And  unto  them  whose  faces  shall  become 
black,  GOD  will  say,  Have  ye  returned  unto  your  unbelief, 
after  ye  had  believed  ?  therefore  taste  the  punishment,  for 
that  ye  have  been  unbelievers :  but  they  whose  faces  shall 
become  white  shall  be  in  the  mercy  of  GOD,  therein  shall 
they  remain  forever.  These  are  the  signs  of  GOD  :  we 
recite  them  unto  thee  with  truth.  GOD  will  not  deal  un- 
justly with  his  creatures.  And  to  GOD  belongeth  whatever 
is  in  heaven  and  on  earth  ;  and  to  GOD  shall  all  things  re- 
turn. Ye  are  the  best  nation  that  hath  been  raised  up  unto 
mankind :  ye  command  that  which  is  just,  and  ye  forbid  that 
which  is  unjust,  and  ye  believe  in  GOD.  And  if  they  who 
have  received  the  scriptures  had  believed,  it  had  surely  been 
the  better  for  them :  there  are  believers  among  them,  but 
the  greater  part  of  them  are  transgressors.  They  shall  not 
hurt  you,  unless  with  a  slight  hurt ;  and  if  they  fight  against 
you,  they  shall  turn  their  backs  to  you ;  and  they  shall  not 
be  helped.  They  are  smitten  with  vileness  wheresoever 
they  are  found  ;  unless  they  obtain  security  by  entering  into 
a  treaty  with  GOD,  and  a  treaty  with  men  :  and  they  draw 
on  themselves  indignation  from  GOD,  and  they  are  afflicted 
with  poverty.  This  they  suffer,  because  they  disbelieved  the 
signs  of  GOD,  and  slew  the  prophets  unjustly  ;  this,  because 
they  were  rebellious,  and  transgressed.  Yet  they  are  not  att 
alike :  there  are  of  those  who  have  received  the  scriptures, 
upright  people  ;  they  meditate  on  the  signs  of  GOD  in  the 
aight  season,  and  worship;  they  believe  in  GOD,  and  the 
»ast  day ;  and  command  that  which  is  just,  and  forbid  that 
which  is  unjust,  and  zealously  strive  to  excel  in  good  works ; 
these  are  of  the  righteous.  And  ye  shall  not  be  denied  the 
reward  of  the  good  which  ye  do;  for  GOD  knoweth  the 


AL   KORAN.  9i 

pious.  As  for  the  unbelievers,  their  wealth  shall  not  profit 
them  at  all,  neither  their  children,  against  GOD  :  they  shall 
be  the  companions  of  hell  fire ;  they  shall  continue  therein  for- 
ever. The  likeness  of  that  which  they  lay  out  in  this  pres- 
ent life,  is  as  a  wind  wherein  there  is  a  scorching  cold :  it 
falleth  on  the  standing  corn  of  those  men  who  have  injured 
their  own  souls,  and  destroyeth  it.  And  GOD  dealeth  not 
unjustly  with  them  ;  but  they  injure  their  own  souls.  O 
true  believers,  contract  not  an  intimate  friendship  with  any 
besides  yourselves ;  they  will  not  fail  to  corrupt  you.  They 
wish  for  that  which  may  cause  you  to  perish  :  their  hatred 
hath  already  appeared  from  out  of  their  mouths ;  but  what 
their  breasts  conceal  is  yet  more  inveterate.  We  have 
already  shown  you  signs  of  their  ill  will  towards  you,  if  ye 
understand.  Behold,  ye  love  them,  and  they  do  not  love 
you :  ye  believe  in  all  the  scriptures,  and  when  they  meet 
you,  they  say,  We  believe;  but  when  they  assemble  pri- 
vately together,  they  bite  their  fingers'  ends  out  of  wrath 
against  you.  Say  unto  them,  Die  in  your  wrath:  verily 
GOD  knoweth  the  innermost  part  of  your  breasts.  If  good 
happen  unto  you,  it  grieveth  them;  and  if  evil  befall  you, 
they  rejoice  at  it.  But  if  ye  be  patient,  and  fear  God,  their 
subtlety  shall  not  hurt  you  at  all ;  for  GOD  comprehendeth 
whatever  they  do.  Call  to  mind  when  thou  wentest  forth 
early  from  thy  family,  that  thou  mightest  prepare  the  faith- 
ful a  camp  for  war;  and  GOD  heard  and  knew  it;  when 
two  companies  of  you  were  anxiously  thoughtful,  so  that  ye 
became  faint-hearted ;  but  GOD  was  the  supporter  of  them 
both;  and  in  GOD  let  the  faithful  trust.  And  GOD  had 
already  given  you  the  victory  at  Bedr,  when  ye  were  in- 
ferior in  number  ;  therefore  fear  GOD,  that  ye  may  be  thank- 
ful. When  thou  saidst  unto  the  faithful,  Is  it  not  enough  for 
you,  that  your  LOBD  should  assist  you  with  three  thousand 
angels  sent  down  from  heaven  ?  Verily  if  ye  persevere,  and 
fear  God,  and  your  enemies  come  upon  you  suddenly,  your 
LORD  will  assist  you  with  five  thousand  angels,  distinguished 
by  their  horses  and  attire.  And  this  GOD  designed  only  as 
good  tidings  for  you  that  your  hearts  might  rest  secure ;  for 
victory  is  from  GOD  alone,  the  mighty,  the  wise.  That  he 
should  cut  off  the  uttermost  part  of  the  unbelievers,  or  cast 
them  down,  or  that  they  should  be  overthrown  and  unsuc- 
oessful,  is  nothing  to  thee.  It  is  no  business  of  thine  ;  whether 


96  AL  KORAN. 

God  be  turned  unto  them,  or  whether  he  punish  them ;  they 
are  surely  unjust  doers.  To  GOD  belongeth  whatsoever  is 
in  heaven  and  on  earth:  he  spareth  whom  he  pleaseth,  and 
he  punisheth  whom  he  pleaseth ;  for  GOD  is  merciful.  O 
true  believers,  devour  not  usury,  doubling  it  twofold ;  but 
fear  GOD,  that  ye  may  prosper :  and  fear  the  fire  which  is 
prepared  for  the  unbelievers ;  and  obey  GOD,  and  kis  apostle 
that  ye  may  obtain  mercy.  And  run  with  emulation  to  ob- 
tain remission  from  your  LORD,  and  paradise,  whose  breath 
equaUeth  the  heavens  and  the  earth,  which  is  prepared  for 
the  godly  ;  who  give  alms  in  prosperity  and  adversity ;  who 
bridle  their  anger,  and  forgive  men  ;  for  GOD  loveth  the 
beneficent.1  And  who,  after  they  have  committed  a  crime, 
or  dealt  unjustly  with  their  own  souls,  remember  GOD,  and 
ask  pardon  for  their  sins,  (for  who  forgiveth  sins  except 
GOD  ?)  and  persevere  not  in  what  they  have  done  knowing- 
ly ;  their  reward  shall  be  pardon  from  iheir  LORD,  and  gar- 
dens wherein  rivers  flow,  they  shall  remain  therein  forever: 
and  how  excellent  is  the  reward  of  those  who  labor !  There 
have  already  been  before  you  examples  of  punishment  of  in- 
fidels, therefore  go  through  the  earth,  and  behold  what  hath 
been  the  end  of  those  who  accuse  God's  apostles  of  imposture. 
This  book  is  a  declaration  unto  men,  and  a  direction  and  an 
admonition  to  the  pious.  And  be  not  dismayed,  neither  be 
ye  grieved  ;  for  ye  shall  be  superior  to  the  unbelievers  if  ye 
believe.  If  a  wound  hath  happened  unto  you  in  war,  a  like 
wound  hath  already  happened  unto  the  unbelieving  people : 
and  we  cause  these  days  of  different  success  interchangeably 
to  succeed  each  other  among  men ;  that  GOD  may  know 
those  who  believe,  and  may  have  martyrs  from  among  you  : 
(Goo  loveth  not  the  workers  of  iniquity  ;)  and  that  GOD 
might  prove  those  who  believe,  and  destroy  the  infidels.  Did 
ye  imagine  that  ye  should  enter  paradise,  when  as  yet  GOD 
knew  not  those  among  you  who  fought  strenuously  in  hit 
cause ;  nor  knew  those  who  persevered  with  patience  ? 
Moreover  ye  did  sometimes  wish  for  death  before  that  ye 
met  it ;  but  ye  have  now  seen  it,  and  ye  looked  on,  but  re- 
treated from  it.  Mohammed  is  no  more  than  an  apostle ; 
the  other  apostles  have  already  deceased  before  him  :  if  he 
die,  therefore,  or  be  slain,  will  ye  turn  back  on  your  heels  ? 
but  he  who  turneth  back  on  his  heels  will  not  hurt  God  at 
all ;  and  Gop  will  surely  reward  the  thankful.  No  soul  can 


AL  KORAN.  97 

die  unless  by  the  permission  of  GOD,  according  to  what  it 
written  in  the  book  containing  the  determinations  of  things. 
And  whoso  chooseth  the  reward  of  this  world,  we  will  give 
him  thereof:  but  whoso  chooseth  the  reward  of  the  world  to 
come,  we  will  give  him  thereof:  and  we  will  surely  reward 
the  thankful.  How  many  prophets  have  encountered  those 
who  had  many  myriads  of  troops :  and  yet  they  desponded 
not  in  their  mind  tor  what  had  befallen  them  in  fighting  for 
the  religion  of  GOD  ;  and  were  not  weakened,  neither  be- 
haved themselves  in  an  abject  manner  ?  GOD  loveth  those 
who  persevere  patiently.  And  their  speech  was  no  other 
than  what  they  said,  Our  LORD  forgive  us  our  offences,  and 
our  transgressions  in  our  business ;  and  confirm  our  feet,  and 
help  us  against  the  unbelieving  people.  And  GOD  gave 
them  the  reward  of  this  world,  and  a  glorious  reward  in  the 
life  to  come ;  for  GOD  loveth  the  well-doers.  O  ye  who 
believe,  if  you  obey  the  infidels,  they  will  cause  you  to  turn 
back  on  your  heels,  and  ye  will  be  turned  back  and  perish : 
but  GOD  is  your  LORD  ;  and  he  is  the  best  helper.  We 
will  surely  cast  a  dread  into  the  hearts  of  the  unbelievers, 
because  they  have  associated  with  GOD  that  concerning 
which  he  sent  them  down  no  power :  their  dwelling  shall  be 
the  fire  of  hett ;  and  the  receptacle  of  the  wicked  shall  be 
miserable.  GOD  had  already  made  good  unto  you  his  prom- 
ise, when  ye  destroyed  them  by  his  permission,  until  ye  be- 
came faint-hearted,  and  disputed  concerning  the  command  of 
the  apostle,  and  were  rebellious ;  after  God  had  shown  you 
what  ye  desired.  Some  of  you  chose  this  present  world,  and 
others  of  you  chose  the  world  to  come.  Then  he  turned  you 
10  flight  from  before  them,  that  he  might  make  trial  of  you  : 
(but  he  hath  now  pardoned  you  :  for  GOD  is  endued  with 
beneficence  towards  the  faithful ;)  when  ye  went  up  as  ye 
fled,  and  looked  not  back  on  any :  while  the  apostle  called 
you,  in  the  uttermost  part  of  you.  Therefore  God  rewarded 
you  with  affliction  on  affliction,  that  ye  be  not  grieved  here- 
after for  the  spoils  which  ye  fail  of,  nor  for  that  which  be- 
falleth  you,  for  GOD  is  well  acquainted  with  whatever  ye 
io.  Then  he  sent  down  upon  you  after  affliction  security;  a 
soft  sleep  which  fell  on  some  part  of  you ;  but  other  part 
were  troubled  by  their  own  souls  ;  falsely  thinking  of  GOD, 
a  foolish  imagination  saying,  Will  anything  of  the  matter 
happen  unto  us  ?  Say,  Verily,  the  matter  belonyelh  wholly 


98  AL   KORAN. 

unto  GOD.  They  concealed  in  their  minds  what  they  de- 
clared not  unto  thee ;  saying,  If  anything  of  the  matter  had 
happened  unto  us,  we  had  not  been  slain  here.  Answer,  If 
ye  had  been  in  your  houses,  verily  they  would  have  gone 
forth  to  fight,  whose  slaughter  was  decreed,  to  the  places 
where  they  died,  and  this  came  to  pass  that  GOD  might  try 
what  was  in  your  breasts,  and  might  discern  what  was  in 
your  hearts ;  for  GOD  knoweth  the  innermost  parts  of  the 
breasts  of  men.  Verily  they  among  you  who  turned  their 
backs  on  the  day  whereon  the  two  armies  met  each  other  at 
Ohod,  Satan  caused  them  to  slip  for  some  crime  which  they 
had  committed :  but  now  hath  GOD  forgiven  them ;  for  GOD 
is  gracious  and  merciful.  O  true  believers,  be  not  as  they 
who  believed  not,  and  said  of  their  brethren  when  they  had 
journeyed  in  the  land  or  had  been  at  war,  If  they  had  been 
with  us,  those  had  not  died,  nor  had  these  been  slain  :  whereas 
what  befell  them  was  so  ordained  that  GOD  might  take  it 
matter  of  sighing  in  their  hearts.  GOD  giveth  life,  and 
causeth  to  die :  and  GOD  seeth  that  which  ye  do.  Moreover 
if  ye  be  slain,  or  die  in  defence  of  the  religion  of  GOD  ;  verily 
pardon  from  GOD,  and  mercy,  is  better  than  what  they  heap 
together  of  worldly  riches.  And  if  ye  die,  or  be  slain,  verily 
unto  GOD  shall  ye  be  gathered.  And  as  to  the  mercy  granted 
unto  the  disobedient  from  GOD,  thou  0  Mohammed,  hast  been 
mild  towards  them ;  but  if  thou  hadst  been  severe,  and  hard- 
hearted, they  had  surely  separated  themselves  from  about 
thee.  Therefore  forgive  them,  and  ask  pardon  for  them: 
and  consult  them  in  the  affair  of  war  ;  and  after  thou  hast 
deliberated,  trust  in  GOD  ;  for  GOD  loveth  those  who  trust 
in  him.  If  GOD  help  you,  none  shall  conquer  you  ;  but  if 
he  desert  you,  who  is  it  that  will  help  you  after  him  ?  There- 
fore in  GOD  let  the  faithful  trust.  It  is  not  the  part  of  a 
prophet  to  defraud,  for  he  who  defraudeth  shall  bring  with 
him  what  he  hath  defrauded  any  one  of,  on  the  day  of  the 
resurrection.  Then  shall  every  soul  be  paid  what  he  hath 
gained;  and  they  shall  not  be  treated  unjustly.  Shall  he 
therefore  who  followeth  that  which  is  well-pleasing  unto  GOD 
be  as  he  who  bringeth  on  himself  wrath  frcm  GOD,  and  whose 
receptacle  is  hell  ?  an  evil  journey  shall  it  be  thither.  There 
shall  be  degrees  of  rewards  and  punishments  with  GOD,  for 
GOD  seeth  what  they  do.  Now  hath  GOD  been  gracious 
v\to  the  believers  when  he  raised  up  among  them  an  apostle 


AL  KORAN.  99 

of  their  own  nation,  who  should  recite  his  signs  unto  them, 
and  purify  them,  and  teach  them  the  book  of  the  Koran  and 
wisdom ;  whereas  they  were  before  in  manifest  error.  After 
a  misfortune  had  befallen  you  at  Ohod,  (ye  had  already  ob» 
tained  two  equal  advantages)  do  ye  say,  Whence  cometh 
this  ?  Answer,  This  is  from  yourselves :  for  GOD  is  al- 
mighty. And  what  happened  unto  you,  on  the  day  whereon 
the  two  armies  met,  was  certainly  by  the  permission  of  GOD  ; 
and  that  he  might  know  the  ungodly.  It  was  said  unto  them, 
Come,  fight  for  the  religion  of  GOD,  or  drive  back  the  enemy: 
they  answered,  if  we  had  known  ye  went  out  to  fight,  we  had 
certainly  followed  you.  They  were  on  that  day  nearer  unto 
unbelief,  than  they  were  to  faith ;  they  spake  with  their 
mouths,  what  was  not  in  their  hearts :  but  GOD  perfectly 
knew  what  they  concealed ;  who  said  of  their  brethren,  whik 
themselves  stayed  at  home,  if  they  had  obeyed  us,  they  had 
not  been  slain.  Say,  Then  keep  back  death  from  your- 
selves, if  ye  say  truth.  Thou  shalt  in  nowise  reckon  those 
who  have  been  slain  at  Ohod,  in  the  cause  of  GOD,  dead ; 
nay,  they  are  sustained  alive  with  their  LORD,  rejoicing  for 
what  GOD  of  his  favor  hath  granted  them  ;  and  being  glad 
for  those  who,  coming  after  them,  have  not  as  yet  overtaker. 
them  ;  because  there  shall  no  fear  come  on  them,  neither 
shall  they  be  grieved.  They  are  filled  with  joy  for  the 
favor  which  they  have  received  from  GOD  and  his  bounty ; 
and  for  that  GOD  suffereth  not  the  reward  of  the  faithful  to 
perish.  They  who  hearkened  unto  GOD  and  his  apostle, 
after  a  wound  had  befallen  them  at  Ohod,  such  of  them  as  do 
good  works,  and  fear  God,  shall  have  a  great  reward  ;  unto 
whom  certain  men  said,  Verily  the  men  of  Mecca  have  al- 
ready gathered  forces  against  you,  be  ye  therefore  afraid  of 
them :  but  this  increased  their  faith,  and  they  said,  GOD  is 
our  support,  and  the  most  excellent  patron.  Wherefore  they 
returned  with  favor  from  GOD,  and  advantage :  no  evil  be- 
fell them :  and  they  followed  what  was  well  pleasing  unto 
GOD  :  for  GOD  is  endowed  with  great  liberality.  Verily 
that  devil  would  cause  you  to  fear  his  friends  :  but  be  ye  not 
afraid  of  them  :  but  fear  me,  if  ye  be  true  believers.  Tlir-y 
shall  not  grieve  thee,  who  emulously  hasten  unto  infidelity ; 
for  they  shall  never  hurt  GOD  at  all.  GOD  will  not  jriv« 
them  a  part  in  the  next  life,  and  they  shall  suffer  a  great 
punishment.  Surely  those  who  purchase  infidelity  with 


100  AL  KORAN. 

faith  shall  by  no  means  hurt  GOD  at  all,  but  they  shall  suf- 
fer a  grievous  punishment.  And  let  not  the  unbelievers 
think,  because  we  grant  them  lives  long  and  prosperous,  that 
it  is  better  for  their  souls :  we  grant  them  long  and  prosper- 
ous lives  only  that  their  iniquity  may  be  increased ;  and  they 
ihall  suffer  an  ignominious  punishment.  GOD  is  not  disposed 
to  leave  the  faithful  in  the  condition  which  ye  are  now  in. 
until  he  sever  the  wicked  from  the  good ;  nor  is  GOD  dis- 
posed to  make  you  acquainted  with  what  is  a  hidden  secret, 
but  GOD  chooseth  such  of  his  apostles  as  he  pleaseth,  to  re- 
veal  his  mind  unto :  believe  therefore  in  GOD,  and  his  apos- 
tles ;  and  if  ye  believe,  and  fear  God,  ye  shall  receive  a  great 
reward.  And  let  not  those  who  are  covetous  of  what  GOD 
of  his  bounty  hath  granted  them  imagine  that  their  avarice  is 
better  for  them  :  nay,  rather  it  is  worse  for  them.  That  which 
they  have  covetously  reserved  shall  be  bound  as  a  collar 
about  their  neck,  on  the  day  of  the  resurrection :  unto  GOD 
belongeth  the  inheritance  of  heaven  and  earth ;  and  GOD  is 
well  acquainted  with  what  ye  do.  GOD  hath  already  heard 
the  saying  of  those  who  said,  Verily  GOD  is  poor,  and  we 
are  rich  :  we  will  surely  write  down  what  they  have  said, 
and  the  slaughter  which  they  have  made  of  the  prophets 
without  a  cause ;  and  we  will  say  unto  them,  Taste  ye  the 
pain  of  burning.  This  shall  they  suffer  for  the  evil  which 
their  hands  have  sent  before  them,  and  because  GOD  is  not 
unjust  towards  mankind;  who  also  say,  Surely  GOD  hath 
commanded  us,  that  we  should  not  give  credit  to  any  apostle, 
until  one  should  come  unto  us  with  a  sacrifice,  which  should 
be  consumed  by  fire.  Say,  Apostles  have  already  come  unto 
you  before  me,  with  plain  proofs,  and  with  the  miracle  which 
ye  mention  :  why  therefore  have  ye  slain  them,  if  ye  speak 
truth  ?  If  they  accuse  thee  of  imposture,  the  apostles  before 
thee  have  also  been  accounted  impostors,  who  brought  evi- 
dent demonstrations,  and  the  scriptures,  and  the  book  which 
enlighteneth  the  understanding.  Every  soul  shall  taste  of 
drath,  and  ye  shall  have  your  reward  on  the  day  of  resur- 
rection ;  and  he  who  shall  be  far  removed  from  hell  fire,  and 
shall  be  admitted  into  paradise,  shall  be  happy :  but  the 
present  life  is  only  a  deceitful  provision.  Ye  shall  surely  be 
proved  in  your  possessions,  and  in  your  persons  ;  and  ye 
shall  bear  from  those  unto  whom  the  scripture  was  delivered 
before  you,  and  from  the  idolaters,  much  hurt :  but  if  ye  b« 


AL  KORAN.  101 

patient  and  fear  God,  this  is  a  matter  that  is  absolutely  de* 
termined.  And  when  GOD  accepted  the  covenant  of  those 
to  whom  the  book  of  the  law  was  given,  saying,  Ye  shall 
surely  publish  it  unto  mankind,  ye  shall  not  hide  it :  yet  they 
threw  it  behind  their  backs,  and  sold  it  for  a  small  price  :  but 
woful  is  the  price  for  which  they  have  sold  it.  Think  not 
that  they  who  rejoice  at  what  they  have  done,  and  expect  to 
be  praised  for  what  they  have  not  done ;  think  not,  0  prophet, 
that  they  shall  escape  from  punishment,  for  they  shall  suffer 
a  painful  punishment ;  and  unto  GOD  belongeth  the  kingdom 
of  heaven  and  earth  :  GOD  is  almighty.  Now  in  the  crea- 
tion of  heaven  and  earth,  and  the  vicissitude  of  night  and 
day,  are  signs  unto  those  who  are  endued  with  understand- 
ing ;  who  remember  GOD  standing,  and  sitting,  and  lying  on 
their  sides ;  and  meditate  on  the  creation  of  heaven  and 
earth,  faying,  0  LORD,  thou  hast  not  created  this  in  vain  ; 
far  be  it  from  thee  :  therefore  deliver  us  from  the  torment  of 
hell  fire :  O  LORD,  surely  whom  thou  shalt  throw  into  the 
fire,  thou  wilt  also  cover  with  shame :  nor  shall  the  ungodly 
have  any  to  help  them.  O  LORD,  we  have  heard  a  preacher 
inviting  us  to  the  faith  and  saying,  Believe  in  your  LORD  • 
and  we  believed.  0  LORD,  forgive  us  therefore  our  sins, 
and  expiate  our  evil  deeds  from  us,  and  make  us  to  die  with 
the  righteous.  0  LORD,  give  us  also  the  reward  which  thou 
hast  promised  by  thy  apostles ;  and  cover  us  not  with  shame 
on  the  day  of  resurrection ;  for  thou  art  not  contrary  to  the 
promise.  Their  LORD  therefore  answered  them,  saying,  I 
will  not  suffer  the  work  of  him  among  you  who  worketh  to 
be  lost,  whether  he  be  male,  or  female :  the  one  of  you  is 
from  the  other.  They  therefore  who  have  left  their  country, 
and  have  been  turned  out  of  their  houses,  and  have  suffered 
for  my  sake,  and  have  been  slain  in  battle ;  verily  I  will  ex- 
piate their  evil  deeds  from  them,  and  I  will  surely  bring 
them  into  gardens  watered  by  rivers ;  a  reward  from  GOD  ; 
and  with  GOD  is  the  most  excellent  reward.  Let  not  the 
prosperous  dealing  of  the  unbelievers  in  the  land  deceive 
thee ;  it  is  but  a  slender  provision ;  and  then  their  receptacle 
shall  be  hell ;  an  unhappy  couch  shall  it  be.  But  they  who 
fear  the  LORD  shall  have  gardens  through  which  rivers  flow, 
Jiey  shall  continue  therein  forever :  this  is  the  gift  of  GOD 
for  what  is  with  GOD  shall  be  better  for  the  righteous  than 
thort-lived  worldly  prosperity.  There  are  some  of  those  wh« 


102  AL  KORAN. 

have  received  the  scriptures,  who  believe  in  GOD,  and  thai 
which  hath  been  sent  down  unto  you,  and  that  which  hath 
been  sent  down  to  them,  submitting  themselves  unto  GOD 
they  sell  not  the  signs  of  GOD  for  a  small  price :  these  shall 
have  their  reward  with  their  LORD  ;  for  GOD  is  swift  in  tak- 
ing an  account.  O  true  believers,  be  patient  and  strive  to  ex- 
cel in  patience,  and  be  constant-minded,  and  fear  GOD,  ttal 
ye  may  be  happy. 


CHAPTER  IV. 
IHTITLED,  WOMEN;  REVEALED  AT  MEDINA. 

IV  THE  NAMK  OF  THE  MOST  MERCIFUL  GOD 

O  MEN,  fear  your  LORD,  who  hath  created  you  out  of  one 
man,  and  out  of  him  created  his  wife,  and  from  them  two 
hath  multiplied  many  men,  and  women  :  and  fear  GOD  by 
whom  ye  beseech  one  another;  and  respect  women  who 
have  borne  you,  for  GOD  is  watching  over  you.  And  give 
the  orphans  when  they  come  to  age  their  substance ;  and 
render  them  not  in  exchange  bad  for  good :  and  devour  not 
their  substance,  by  adding  it  to  your  own  substance ;  for  this 
is  a  great  sin.  And  if  ye  fear  that  ye  shall  not  act  with 
equity  towards  orphans  of  the  female  sex,  take  in  marriage 
of  such  other  women  as  please  you,  two,  or  three,  or  four, 
and  not  more.  But  if  ye  fear  that  ye  cannot  act  equitably 
towards  so  many,  marry  one  only,  or  the  slaves  which  ye 
shall  have  acquired.  This  will  be  easier,  that  ye  swerve 
not  from  righteotisness.  And  give  women  their  dowry 
freely ;  but  if  they  voluntarily  remit  unto  you  any  part  of 
it,  enjoy  it  with  satisfaction  and  advantage.  And  give  not 
unto  those  who  are  weak  of  understanding  the  substance 
which  GOD  hath  appointed  you  to  preserve  for  them ;  but 
maintain  them  thereout,  and  clothe  them,  and  speak  kindly 
unto  them.  And  examine  the  orphans  until  they  attaij 
the  age  of  marriage :  but  if  ye  perceive  they  are  able  to 
manage  their  affairs  well,  deliver  their  substance  unto  them ; 
and  waste  t  not  extravagantly,  or  hastily,  because  they 
up.  Let  him  who  is  rich  abstain  entirely  from  the 


AL  KORAN.  103 

orphans'  estates;  and  let  him  who  is  poor  take  thereof  ac- 
cording to  what  shall  be  reasonable.  And  when  ye  deliver 
their  substance  unto  them,  call  witnesses  thereof  in  their 
presence  :  GOD  taketh  sufficient  account  of  your  actions. 
Men  ought  to  have  a  part  of  what  their  parents  and  kin- 
dred leave  behind  them  when  they  die :  and  women  also 
ought  to  have  a  part  of  what  their  parents  and  kindred 
leave,  whether  it  be  little,  or  whether  it  be  much ;  a  de- 
terminate part  it  due  to  them.  And  when  they  who  are 
of  kin  are  present  at  the  dividing  of  what  is  left,  and  also 
the  orphans,  and  the  poor ;  distribute  unto  them  some  part 
thereof';  and  if  the  estate  be  too  small,  at  least  speak  com- 
fortably unto  them.  And  let  those  fear  to  abuse  orphans, 
who  if  they  leave  behind  them  a  weak  offspring,  are  solic- 
itous for  them ;  let  them  therefore  fear  GOD,  and  speak 
that  which  is  convenient.  Surely  they  who  devour  the 
possessions  of  orphans  unjustly  shall  swallow  down  nothing 
but  fire  into  their  bellies,  and  shall  broil  in  raging  flames. 
GOD  hath  thus  commanded  you  concerning  your  children. 
A  male  shall  have  as  much  as  the  share  of  two  females ; 
but  if  they  be  females  only,  and  above  two  in  number,  they 
shall  have  two  third  parts  of  what  the  deceased  shall  leave ; 
and  if  there  be  but  one,  she  shall  have  the  half.  And  the 
parents  of  the  deceased  shall  have  each  of  them  a  sixth 
part  of  what  he  shall  leave,  if  he  have  a  child ;  but  if  he 
have  no  child,  and  his  parents  be  his  heirs,  then  his  mother 
shall  have  the  third  part.  And  if  he  have  brethren,  his 
mother  shall  have  a  sixth  part,  after  the  legacies  which  he 
shall  bequeath,  and  his  debts  be  paid.  Ye  know  not 
whether  your  parents  or  your  children  be  of  greater  use 
unto  you.  TJiis  is  an  ordinance  from  GOD,  and  GOD  is 
knowing  and  wise.  Moreover  ye  may  claim  half  of  what 
your  wives  shall  leave,  if  they  have  no  issue;  but  if  they 
have  issue,  then  ye  shall  have  the  fourth  part  of  what  they 
shall  leave,  after  the  legacies  which  they  shall  bequeath, 
and  the  debts  be  paid.  They  also  shall  have  the  fourth 
part  of  what  ye  shall  leave,  in  case  ye  have  no  issue ;  but 
if  ye  have  issue,  then  they  shall  have  the  eighth  part  of 
what  ye  shall  leave,  after  the  legacies  which  ye  shall  be- 
queath, and  your  debts  be  paid.  And  if  a  man  or  woman's 
tubttance  be  inherited  by  a  distant  relation,  and  he  or  she 
have  a  brother  or  sister;  each  of  them  two  shall  have* 


104  AL  KORAN. 

nixth  part  of  the  estate.  But  if  there  be  more  than  Urn 
number,  they  shall  be  equal  sharers  in  a  third  part,  after 
payment  of  the  legacies  which  shall  be  bequeathed,  and 
«he  debts,  without  prejudice  to  the  heirs.  This  is  an  ordi- 
nance from  GOD  :  and  GOD  is  knowing  and  gracious. 
These  are  the  statutes  of  GOD.  And  whoso  obeyeth  GOD 
and  his  apostle,  God  shall  lead  him  into  gardens  wherein 
rivers  flow,  they  shall  continue  therein  forever ;  and  thi* 
shall  be  great  happiness.  But  whoso  disobeyeth  GOD,  and 
his  apostle,  and  transgresseth  his  statutes,  God  shall  cast 
him  into  hett  fire ;  he  shall  remain  therein  forever,  and 
he  shall  suffer  a  shameful  punishment.  If  any  of  your 
women  be  guilty  of  whoredom,  produce  four  witnesses  from 
Among  you  against  them,  and  if  they  bear  witness  against 
them,  imprison  them  in  separate  apartments  until  death  re- 
lease them,  or  GOD  affordeth  them  a  way  to  escape.  And 
if  two  of  you  commit  the  like  wickedness,  punish  them  both : 
but  if  they  repent  and  amend,  let  them  both  alone ;  for 
GOD  is  easy  to  be  reconciled  and  merciful.  Verily  repent- 
ance Witt  be  accepted  with  GOD,  from  those  who  do  evil 
ignorantly,  and  then  repent  speedily ;  unto  them  will  GOD 
be  turned :  for  GOD  is  knowing  and  wise.  But  no  repent- 
ance shall  be  accepted  from  those  who  do  evil  until  the  time 
when  death  presenteth  itself  unto  one  of  them,  and  he 
saith,  Verily  I  repent  now ;  nor  unto  those  who  die  unbe- 
lievers ;  for  them  have  we  prepared  a  grievous  punishment. 
O  true  believers,  it  is  not  lawful  for  you  to  be  heirs  of 
women  against  their  will,  nor  to  hinder  them  from  mar- 
rying others,  that  ye  may  take  away  part  of  what  ye  have 
given  them  in  dowry;  unless  they  have  been  guilty  of  a 
manifest  crime:  but  converse  kindly  with  them.1  And  if 
ye  hate  them,  it  may  happen  that  ye  may  hate  a  thing 
wherein  GOD  hath  placed  much  good.  If  ye  be  desirous 
to  exchange  a  wife  for  another  wife,  and  ye  have  already 
given  one  of  them  a  talent,  take  not  away  anything  there- 
from :  will  ye  take  it  by  slandering  her,  and  doing  her  mani- 
fest injustice  ?  And  how  can  ye  take  it,  since  the  one  of 
you  hath  gone  in  unto  the  other,  and  they  have  received 
from  you  a  firm  covenant  ?  Marry  not  women  whom  your 
fathers  have  had  to  wife ;  (except  what  is  already  past :) 
for  this  is  uncleanness,  and  an  abomination,  and  an  evil 
way.  Ye  are  forbidden  to  marry  your  mothers,  and  your 


AL   KORAN.  104 

daughters,  and  your  sisters,  and  your  aunts  both  on  th« 
father's  and  on  the  mother's  side,  and  your  brothers'  daugh- 
ters, and  your  sisters'  daughters,  and  your  mothers  who 
have  given  you  suck,  and  your  foster-sisters,  and  your 
wives'  mothers,  and  your  daughters-in-law  which  are  under 
your  tuition,  born  of  your  wives  unto  whom  ye  have  goue 
in,  (but  if  ye  have  not  gone  in  uYito  them,  it  shall  be  no  sin 
in  you  to  marry  them,)  and  the  wives  of  your  sons  who 
proceed  out  of  your  loins;  and  ye  are  also  forbidden  to 
take  to  wife  two  sisters,  except  what  is  already  past :  for 
Goi>  is  gracious  and  merciful.  Te  are  also  forbidden  to 
take  to  wife  free  women  who  are  married,  except  those 
women  whom  your  right  hands  shall  possess  as  slaves.  This 
is  ordained  you  from  GOD.  Whatever  is  beside  this  is 
allowed  you;  that  ye  may  with  your  substance  provide 
wives  for  yourselves,  acting  that  which  is  right,  and  avoid- 
ing whoredom.  And  for  the  advantage  which  ye  receive 
from  them,  give  them  their  reward,  according  to  what  is 
ordained :  but  it  shall  be  no  crime  in  you  to  make  any 
other  agreement  among  yourselves,  after  the  ordinance 
shall  be  complied  with ;  for  GOD  is  knowing  and  wise. 
Whoso  among  you  hath  not  means  sufficient  that  he  may 
marry  free  women,  who  are  believers,  let  him  marry  with 
such  of  your  maid-servants  whom  your  right  hands  possess, 
'as  are  true  believers ;  for  GOD  well  knoweth  your  faith. 
Ye  are  the  one  from  the  other :  therefore  marry  them  with 
the  consent  of  their  masters ;  and  give  them  their  dower 
according  to  justice ;  such  as  are  modest,  not  guilty  of 
whoredom,  nor  entertaining  lovers.  And  when  they  are 
married,  if  they  be  guilty  of  adultery,  they  shall  suf- 
fer half  the  punishment  which  is  appointed  for  the  free 
women.  This  is  allowed  unto  him  among  you,  who  feareth 
to  sin  by  marrying  free  women ;  but  if  ye  abstain  from 
marrying  slaves,  it  wiU  be  better  for  you ;  GOD  is  gracious 
and  merciful.  GOD  is  willing  to  declare  these  things  unto 
you,  and  to  direct  you  according  to  the  ordinances  of  those 
who  have  gone  before  you,  and  to  be  merciful  unto  you. 
GOD  is  knowing  and  wise.  GOD  desireth  to  be  gracious 
unto  you ;  but  they  who  follow  their  lusts,  desire  that  ye 
ahould  turn  aside  from  the  truth  with  great  deviation.  GOD 
is  minded  to  make  his  religion  light  unto  you  :  for  man  was 
created  weak.  O  true  believers,  consume  not  your  wealth 


106  AL  KORAN. 

among  yourselves  in  vanity ;  unless  there  be  merchandising 
among  you  by  mutual  consent :  neither  slay  yourselves ;  for 
GOD  is  merciful  towards  you :  and  whoever  doth  this 
maliciously  and  wickedly,  he  will  surely  cast  him  to  be 
broiled  in  hell  fire ;  and  this  is  easy  with  GOD.  If  ye 
turn  aside  from  the  grievous  sins,  of  those  which  ye  are 
forbidden  to  commit,  we  will  cleanse  you  from  your  smaller 
faults  ;  and  will  introduce  you  into  paradise  with  an  honor- 
able entry.1  Covet  not  that  which  GOD  hath  bestowed  on 
some  of  you  preferably  to  others.  Unto  the  men  shall  b* 
given  a  portion  of  what  they  shall  have  gained,  and  unto 
the  women  shall  be  given  a  portion  of  what  they  shall  have 
gained:  therefore  ask  GOD  of  his  bounty:  for  GOD  is 
omniscient.2  We  have  appointed  unto  every  one  kindred, 
to  inherit  part  of  what  their  parents  and  relations  shall 
leave  at  their  deaths.  And  unto  those  with  whom  your 
right  hands  have  made  an  alliance,  give  their  part  of  the 
inheritance;  for  GOD  is  witness  of  all  things.  Men  shall 
have  the  preeminence  above  women,  because  of  those  ad- 
vantages wherein  GOD  hath  caused  the  one  of  them  to 
excel  the  other,  and  for  that  which  they  expend  of  their 
substance  in  maintaining  their  wives.  The  honest  women 
are  obedient,  careful  in  the  absence  of  their  husbands,  for 
that  GOD  preserveth  them,  by  committing  them  to  the  care  and 
protection  of  the  men.  But  those,  whose  perverseness  ye  shall 
be  apprehensive  of,  rebuke ;  and  remove  them  into  separate 
apartments,  and  chastise  them.  But  if  they  shall  be  obedient 
unto  you,  seek  not  an  occasion  of  quarrel  against  them :  for 
GOD  is  high  and  great.  And  if  ye  fear  a  breach  between  the 
husband  and  wife,  send  a  judge  out  of  his  family,  and  a  judge 
out  of  her  family :  if  they  shall  desire  a  reconciliation,  GOD  will 
cause  them  to  agree ;  for  GOD  is  knowing  and  wise.  Serve 
GOD,  and  associate  no  creature  with  him ;  and  show  kindness 
unto  parents,  and  relations,  and  orphans,  and  the  poor,  and 
your  neighbor  who  is  of  kin  to  you,  and  also  your  neighbor 
who  is  a  stranger,  and  to  your  familiar  companion,  and  die 
traveller,  and  the  captives  whom  your  right  hands  shall  pos- 
sess ;  for  GOD  loveth  not  the  proud  or  vain-glorious,  who  are 
covetous,  and  recommend  covetousness  unto  men,  and  con- 
ceal that  which  GOD  of  his  bounty  hath  given  them ;  (we 
have  prepared  a  shameful  punishment  for  the  unbelievers ;) 
and  who  bestow  their  wealth'  in  charity  to  be  observed 


AL  KORAN.  107 

of  men,  and  believe  not  in  GOD,  nor  in  the  last  day ;  and 
whoever  haih  Satan  for  a  companion,  an  evil  companion  hath 
he !  And  what  harm  would  befall  them  if  they  should  be- 
lieve in  GOD,  and  the  last  day,  and  give  alms  out  of  that 
which  GOD  hath  bestowed  on  them  ?  since  GOD  knoweth 
them  who  do  thig.  Verily  GOD  will  not  wrong  any  one 
even  the  weight  of  an  ant :  and  if  it  be  a  good  action,  he 
will  double  it,  and  will  recompense  it  in  his  sight  with  a 
great  reward.  How  wiU  it  be  with  the  unbelievers  when  we 
lhall  bring  a  witness  out  of  each  nation  against  itself,  and 
ahall  bring  thee,  0  Mohammed,  a  witness  against  these 
people  ?  In  that  day  they  who  have  not  believed,  and  have 
rebelled  against  the  apostle  of  God,  shall  wish  the  earth 
was  levelled  with  them ;  and  they  shall  not  be  able  to  hide 
any  matter  from  GOD.  O  true  believers,  come  not  to 
prayers  when  ye  are  drunk,  until  ye  understand  what  ye 
say ;  nor  when  ye  are  polluted  by  emission  of  seed,  unless 
ye  be  travelling  on  the  road,  until  ye  wash  yourselves. 
But  if  ye  be  sick,  or  on  a  journey,  or  any  of  you  come 
from  easing  nature,  or  have  touched  women,  and  find  no 
water ;  take  fine  clean  sand  and  rub  your  faces  and  your 
hands  therewith  ;  for  GOD  is  merciful  and  inclined  to  forgive. 
Hast  thou  not  observed  those  unto  whom  part  of  the  scrip- 
ture was  delivered  ?  they  sell  error,  and  desire  that  ye  may 
wander  from  the  right  way ;  but  GOD  well  knoweth  your 
enemies.  GOD  is  a  sufficient  patron ;  and  GOD  is  a  suf- 
ficient helper.  Of  the  Jews  there  are  some  who  pervert 
words  from  their  places ;  and  say,  We  have  heard,  and  have 
disobeyed ;  and  do  thou  hear  without  understanding  our 
meaning,  and  look  upon  us :  perplexing  with  their  tongues, 
and  reviling  the  true  religion.  But  if  they  had  said,  We 
have  heard,  and  do  obey  ;  and  do  thou  hear,  and  regard  us ; 
certainly  it  were  better  for  them,  and  more  right.  But  GOD 
hath  cursed  them  by  reason  of  their  infidelity ;  therefore  a 
few  of  them  only  shall  believe.  Oye  to  whom  the  scriptures 
have  been  given,  believe  in  the  revelation  which  we  have 
sent  down,  confirming  that  which  is  with  you ;  before  we  de- 
face your  countenances,  and  render  them  as  the  back  parts 
thereof;  or  curse  them,  as  we  cursed  those  who  transgressed 
on  the  Sabbath-day  ;  and  the  command  of  GOD  was  fulfilled. 
Surely  GOD  will  not  pardon  the  giving  hirn  an  equal ;  bui 
will  pardon  any  other  sin  except  that,  to  whom  he  pleaseth 


108  AL  KORAN. 

and  whoso  giveth  a  companion  unto  GOD,  hath  devised  a 
great  wickedness.  Hast  thou  not  observed  those  who  justify 
themselves  ?  But  GOD  justifieth  whomsoever  he  pleaseth, 
nor  shall  they  he  wronged  a  hair.  Behold,  how  they  imagine 
a  lie  against  GOD  ;  and  therein  is  iniquity  sufficiently  mani- 
fest. Hast  thou  not  considered  those  to  whom  part  cf  the 
scripture  hath  been  given  ?  They  believe  in  false  gods  and 
idols,  and  say  of  those  who  believe  not,  These  are  more 
rightly  directed  in  the  way  of  truth,  than  they  who  believe 
on  Mohammed.  Those  are  the  men  whom  God  hath  cursed 
and  unto  him  whom  GOD  shall  curse,  thou  shalt  surely  find 
no  helper.  Shall  they  have  a  part  of  the  kingdom,  since 
even  then  they  would  not  bestow  the  smallest  matter  on 
men  ?  Do  they  envy  other  men  that  which  GOD  of  his 
bounty  hath  given  them  ?  We  formerly  gave  unto  the 
family  of  Abraham  a  book  of  revelations  and  wisdom  ;  and 
we  gave  them  a  great  kingdom.  There  is  of  them  who  be- 
lieveth  on  him ;  and  there  is  of  them  who  turneth  aside  from 
him :  but  the  raging  fire  of  hell  is  a  sufficient  punishment. 
Verily  those  who  disbelieve  our  signs,  we  will  surely  cast 
to  be  broiled  in  hell  fire ;  so  often  as  their  skins  shall  be  well 
burned,  we  will  give  them  other  skins  in  exchange,  that  they 
may  taste  the  sharper  torment ;  for  GOD  is  mighty  and  wise. 
But  those  who  believe  and  do  that  which  is  right,  we  will 
bring  into  gardens  watered  by  rivers,  therein  shall  they 
remain  forever,  and  there  shall  they  enjoy  wives  free  from 
all  impurity ;  and  we  will  lead  them  into  perpetual  shades. 
Moreover  GOD  commandeth  you  to  restore  what  ye  are 
trusted  with,  to  the  owners  ;  and  when  ye  judge  between 
men,  that  ye  judge  according  to  equity:  and  surely  an  ex- 
cellent virtue  it  is  to  which  GOD  exhorteth  you ;  for  GOD 
both  heareth  and  seeth.  O  true  believers,  obey  GOD,  and 
obey  the  apostle ;  and  those  who  are  in  authority  among 
you  :  and  if  ye  differ,  in  anything,  refer  it  unto  GOD  and 
the  apostle,  if  ye  believe  in  GOD,  and  the  last  day :  this  is 
better,  and  a  fairer  method  of  determination.  Hast  tho;  i  not 
observed  those  who  pretend  they  believe  in  what  hath  been 
revealed  unto  thee,  and  what  hath  been  revealed  before 
thee?  They  desire  to  go  to  judgment  before  Taghut,  al- 
though they  have  been  commanded  not  to  believe  in  him ; 
and  Satan  desireth  to  seduce  them  into  a  wide  error.1  And 
when  it  is  said  unto  them,  Come  unto  the  book  which  Goj> 


AL  KORAN.  109 

hath  sent  down,  and  to  the  apostle ;  thou  seest  the  ungodly 
turn  aside  from  thee,  with  great  aversion.  But  how  wiU 
they  behave  when  a  misfortune  shall  befall  them,  for  that 
which  their  hands  have  sent  before  them  ?  Then  will  they 
come  unto  thee,  and  swear  by  GOD,  saying,  If  we  intended 
any  other  than  to  do  good,  and  to  reconcile  the  parties. 
GOD  knoweth  what  is  in  the  hearts  of  these  met ;  therefore 
let  them  alone,  and  admonish  them,  and  v-peak  unto  them  a 
word  which  may  affect  their  souls.  We  have  not  sent  any 
apostle,  but  that  he  might  be  obeyed  by  the  permission  of 
GOD  :  but  if  they,  after  they  have  injured  their  own  souls, 
come  unto  thee,  and  ask  pardon  of  GOD,  and  the  apostle  ask 
pardon  for  them,  they  shall  surely  find  GOD  easy  to  be  rec- 
onciled and  merciful.  And  by  thy  LORD  they  will  not  per- 
fectly believe,  until  they  make  thee  judge  of  their  controver- 
sies ;  and  shall  not  afterwards  find  in  their  own  minds  any 
hardship  in  what  thou  shalt  determine,  but  shall  acquiesce 
therein  with  entire  submission.  And  if  we  had  commanded 
them,  saying,  Slay  yourselves,  or  depart  from  your  houses  ; 
they  would  not  have  done  it  except  a  few  of  them.  And  if 
they  had  done  what  they  were  admonished,  it  would  certainly 
have  been  better  for  them,  and  more  efficacious  for  confirm- 
ing their  faith  ;  and  we  should  then  have  surely  given  them 
in  our  sight  an  exceeding  great  reward,  and  we  should  have 
directed  them  in  the  right  way.  Whoever  obeyeth  GOD  and 
the  apostle,  they  shall  be  with  those  unto  whom  GOD  hath 
been  gracious,  of  the  prophets,  and  the  sincere,  and  the  mar- 
tyrs, and  the  righteous  ;  and  these  are  the  most  excellent 
company.  This  is  bounty  from  GOD  ;  and  GOD  is  suffi- 
ciently knowing.  0  true  believers,  take  your  necessary  pre- 
caution against  your  enemies,  and  either  go  forth  io  war  in 
separate  parties,  or  go  forth  all  together  in  a  body.  There 
is  of  you  who  tarrieth  behind ;  and  if  a  misfortune  befall 
you,  he  saith,  Verily  GOD  hath  been  gracious  unto  me,  that 
I  was  not  present  with  them :  but  if  success  attend  you  from 
GOD,  he  will  say  (as  if  there  was  no  friendship  between  you 
and  him),  Would  to  GOD  I  had  been  with  them,  for  I  should 
have  acquired  great  merit.  Let  them  therefore  fight  for  the 
religion  of  GOD,  who  part  with  the  present  life  in  exchange 
for  that  which  is  to  coroe ;  for  whosoever  fighteth  for  the  re- 
ligion of  GOD,  whether  he  be  slain,  or  be  victorious,  we  will 
lurely  give  him  a  great  reward.  And  what  ails  you,  that  ye 


110  AL  KORAN. 

fight  not  for  GOD'S  true  religion,  and  in  defence  of  the  weak 
among  men,  women,  and  children,  who  say,  O  LORD,  bring 
os  forth  from  this  city,  whose  inhabitants  are  wicked ;  gram 
us  from  before  thee  a  protector,  and  grant  us  from  before 
thee  a  defender.  They  who  believe  fight  for  the  religion 
of  GOD  ;  but  they  who  believe  not  fight  for  the  religion  of 
Taghut.  Fight  therefore  against  the  friends  of  Satan,  foi 
the  stratagem  of  Satan  is  weak.  Hast  thou  not  observed 
those  unto  whom  it  was  said,  Withhold  your  hands  from  war, 
and  be  constant  at  prayers,  and  pay  the  legal  alms  ?  Bui 
when  war  is  commanded  them,  behold  a  part  of  them  feai 
men  as  they  should  fear  GOD,  or  with  a  great  fear,  and  say, 
0  LORD,  wherefore  hast  thou  commanded  us  to  go  to  war, 
ar.d  hast  not  suffered  us  to  wait  our  approaching  end  ?  Say 
unto  them,  The  provision  of  this  life  is  but  small ;  but  the 
future  shall  be  better  for  him  who  feareth  God  ;  and  ye  shall 
not  be  in  the  least  injured  at  the  day  of  judgment.  Whereso- 
ever ye  be,  death  will  overtake  you,  although  ye  be  in  lofty 
towers.  If  good  befall  them,  they  say,  This  is  from  GOD  ; 
but  if  evil  befall  them,  they  say,  This  is  from  thee,  0  Moham- 
med: say,  All  is  from  GOD;  and  what  aileth  these  people, 
that  they  are  so  far  from  understanding  what  is  said  unto 
'tern?  Whatever  good  befalleth  thee,  0  man,  it  is  from 
GOD  ;  and  whatever  evil  befalleth  thee,  it  is  from  thyself. 
We  have  sent  thee  an  apostle  unto  men,  and  GOD  is  a  suf- 
ficient witness  thereof.  Whoever  obeyeth  the  apostle,  obey 
eth  GOD  ;  and  whoever  turneth  back,  we  have  not  sent  thee 
to  be  a  keeper  over  them.  They  say,  Obedience  :  yet  when 
they  go  forth  from  thee,  part  of  them  meditate  by  night  a 
matter  different  from  what  thou  speakest ;  but  GOD  shall 
write  down  what  they  meditate  by  night :  therefore  let  them 
alone,  and  trust  in  GOD,  for  GOD  is  a  sufficient  protector. 
Do  they  not  attentively  consider  the  Koran  ?  if  it  had  been 
from  any  besides  GOD,  they  would  certainly  have  found 
therein  many  contradictions.  When  any  news  cometh  unto 
them,  either  of  security  or  fear,  they  immediately  divulge 
it;  but  if  they  told  it  to  the  apostle  and  to  those  who  are 
iu  authority  among  them,  such  of  them  would  understand 
the  truth  of  the  matter,  as  inform  themselves  thereof  from 
the  apostle  and  his  chiefs.  And  if  the  favor  of  GOD  and  his 
murcy  had  not  been  upon  you,  ye  had  followed  the  devil, 
except  a  few  of  you.  Fight  therefore  for  the  religion  of 


AL  KORAN.  Ill 

GOD,  and  oblige  not  any  to  what  is  difficult,  except  thyself; 
however  excite  the  faithful  to  tear,  perhaps  GOD  will  restrain 
the  courage  of  the  unbelievers ;  for  GOD  is  stronger  than 
they,  and  more  able  to  punish.  He  who  intercedeth  between 
men  with  a  good  intercession  shall  have  a  portion  thereof; 
and  he  who  intercedeth  with  an  evil  intercession  shall  hava 
a  portion  thereof;  for  GOD  overlooketh  all  things.  When 
ye  are  saluted  with  a  salutation,  salute  the  person  with  a  bet- 
ter salutation,  or  at  least  return  the  same ;  for  GOD  taketh 
an  account  of  all  things.  GOD  !  there  is  no  GOD  but  he ; 
he  will  surely  gather  you  together  on  the  day  of  resurrec- 
tion ;  there  is  no  doubt  of  it :  and  who  is  more  true  than 
GOD  in  what  he  saith  ?  Why  are  ye  divided  concerning  the 
ungodly  into  two  parties ;  since  GOD  hath  overturned  them 
for  what  they  have  committed  ?  Will  ye  direct  him  whom 
GOD  hath  led  astray ;  since  for  him  whom  GOD  shall  lead 
astray,  thou  shalt  find  no  true  path  ?  They  desire  that  ye 
should  become  infidels,  as  they  are  infidels,  and  that  ye 
should  be  equally  wicked  with  themselves.  Therefore  take  not 
friends  from  among  them,  until  they  fly  their  country  for  the 
religion  of  GOD  ;  and  if  they  turn  back  from  the  faith,  take 
them,  and  kill  them  wherever  ye  find  them ;  and  take  no 
friend  from  among  them,  nor  any  helper,  except  those  who 
go  unto  a  people  who  are  in  alliance  with  you,  or  those  who 
come  unto  you,  their  hearts  forbidding  them  either  to  fight 
against  you,  or  to  fight  against  their  own  people.  And  if 
GOD  pleased  he  would  have  permitted  them  to  have  pre- 
vailed against  you,  and  they  would  have  fought  against  you. 
But  if  they  depart  from  you,  and  fight  not  against  you,  and 
offer  you  peace,  GOD  doth  not  allow  you  to  take  or  kill  them* 
Ye  shall  find  others  who  are  desirous  to  enter  into  confi- 
lence  with  you,  and  dt  the  same  time  to  preserve  a  confidence 
with  their  own  people  •  so  often  as  they  return  to  sedition, 
they  shall  be  subverted  therein  ;  and  if  they  depart  not  from 
you,  and  offer  you  p«aee,  and  restrain  their  hands  from  war- 
ring against  you,  tnke  them  and  kill  them  wheresoever  yc 
find  them  ;  over  these  have  we  granted  you  a  manifest 
power,  It  is  not  lawful  for  a  believer  to  kill  a  believer, 
miles*  it  happen  by  mistake ;  and  whoso  killeth  a  believer 
by  mistake,  the  penalty  shall  be  the  freeing  of  a  believer  from 
slavery,  and  a  fine  to  be  paid  to  the  family  of  the  deceased* 
tale&s  they  remit  it  as  alms :  and  if  the  slain  person  be  of  a 


112  AL  KORAN. 

people  at  enmity  with  you,  and  be  a  true  believer,  the  penalty 
shall  be  the  freeing  of  a  believer  ;  but  if  he  be  of  a  people  in 
confederacy  with  you,  a  fine  to  be  paid  to  his  family,  and  the 
freeing  of  a  believer.  And  he  who  findeth  not  wherewith  to 
do  this  shall  fast  two  months  consecutively  as  a  penance 
enjoined  from  GOD  ;  and  GOD  is  knowing  and  wise.  But 
whoso  killeth  a  believer  designedly,  his  reward  shall  be  hell ; 
he  shall  remain  therein  forever ;  and  GOD  shall  be  angry 
with  him,  and  shall  curse  him,  and  shall  prepare  for  him  a 
great  punishment.  O  true  believers,  when  ye  are  on  a 
march  in  defence  of  the  true  religion,  justly  discern  such  as 
ye  shall  happen  to  meet,  and  say  not  unto  him  who  saluteth 
you,  thou  art  not  a  true  believer ;  seeking  the  accidental 
goods  of  the  present  life ;  for  with  GOD  is  much  spoil. 
Such  have  ye  formerly  been  ;  but  GOD  hath  been  gracious 
unto  you  ;  therefore  make  a  just  discernment,  for  GOD  is 
well  acquainted  with  that  which  ye  do.  Those  believers 
who  sit  still  at  home,  not  having  any  hurt,  and  those  who 
employ  their  fortunes  and  their  persons  for  the  religion  of 
GOD,  shall  not  be  held  equal.  GOD  hath  preferred  those 
who  employ  their  fortunes  and  their  persons  in  that  cause 
to  a  degree  of  honor  above  those  who  sit  at  home ;  GOD 
hath  indeed  promised  every  one  paradise,  but  GOD  hath 
preferred  those  who  fight  for  the  faith  before  those  who  sit 
still,  by  adding  unto  them  a  great  reward,  by  degrees  of 
honor  conferred  on  them  from  him,  and  by  granting  them 
forgiveness  and  mercy ;  for  GOD  is  indulgent  and  merciful. 
Moreover  unto  those  whom  the  angels  put  to  death,  having 
injured  their  own  souls,  the  angels  said,  Of  what  religion 
were  ye  ?  they  answered,  We  were  weak  in  the  earth. 
The  angels  replied,  Was  not  GOD'S  earth  wide  enough,  that 
ye  might  fly  therein  to  a  place  of  refuge  ?  Therefore  their 
habitation  shall  be  hell ;  and  an  evil  journey  shall  it  be 
hithtr:  except  the  weak  among  men,  and  women,  and 
children,  who  were  not  able  to  find  means,  and  were  not 
directed  in  the  way ;  these  peradventure  GOD  will  pardon, 
for  GOD  is  ready  to  forgive,  and  gracious.  Whosoever  flieth 
from  his  country  for  the  sake  of  GOD'S  true  religion,  shall 
tind  in  the  earth  many  forced  to  do  the  same,  and  plenty 
»f  provisions.  And  whoever  departeth  from  his  house,  and 
rtieth  unto  GOD  and  his  apostle,  if  death  overtake  him  in  the 
way,  GOD  will  be  obliged  to  reward  him,  for  GOD  is  gra- 


AL  KORAN.  113 

cious  and  merciful.  When  ye  march  to  war  in  the  eartn, 
it  shall  be  no  crime  in  you  if  ye  shorten  your  prayers,  in 
case  ye  fear  the  infidels  may  attack  you ;  for  the  infidels 
are  your  open  enemy.  But  when  thou,  0  prophet,  shall  be 
among  them,  and  shalt  pray  with  them,  let  a  party  of  them 
arise  to  prayer  with  thee,  and  let  then?  take  their  arms ;  and 
when  they  shall  have  worshipped,  let  them  stand  behind  you, 
and  let  another  party  come  that  hath  not  prayed,  and  let 
them  pray  with  thee,  and  let  them  be  cautious  and  take  their 
arms.  The  unbelievers  would  that  ye  should  neglect  your 
arms  and  your  baggage  while  ye  pray,  that  they  might  turn 
upon  you  at  once.  It  shall  be  no  crime  in  you,  if  ye  be  in- 
commoded by  rain,  or  be  sick,  that  ye  lay  down  your  arms ; 
but  take  your  necessary  precaution  :  GOD  hath  prepared  for 
the  unbelievers  an  ignominious  punishment.  And  when  ye 
sh^ll  have  fnded  your  prayer,  remember  GOD,  standing,  and 
pitting,  and  lying  on  your  sides.  But  when  ye  are  secure 
from  danger,  complete  your  prayers:  for  prayer  is  com- 
manded the  faithful,  and  appointed  to  be  said  at  the  stated 
times.  Be  not  negligent  in  seeking  out  the  unbelieving 
people,  though  ye  suffer  some  inconvenience;  for  they  also 
shall  suffer  as  ye  suffer,  and  ye  hope  for  a  reward  from  GOD 
which  they  cannot  hope  for ;  and  GOD  is  knowing  and  wise. 
We  have  sent  down  unto  thee  the  book  of  the  Koran  with 
truth,  that  thou  mayest  judge  between  men  through  that 
wisdom  which  GOD  showeth  thee  therein;  and  be  not  an 
advocate  for  the  fraudulent ;  but  ask  pardon  of  GOD  for  thy 
wrong  intention,  since  GOD  is  indulgent  and  merciful.1  Dis- 
puto  not  for  those  who  deceive  one  another,  for  GOD  loveth 
not  him  who  is  a  deceiver  or  unjust.  Such  conceal  them- 
selves from  men,  but  they  conceal  not  themselves  from  GOD  : 
for  he  is  with  them  when  they  imagine  by  night  a  saying 
which  pleaseth  him  not,  and  GOD  comprehendeth  what  they 
do.  Behold,  ye  are  they  who  have  disputed  for  them  in  this 
present  life ;  but  who  shall  dispute  with  GOD  for  them  on 
the  day  of  resurrection,  or  who  will  become  their  patron  ? 
yet  he  who  doth  evil,  or  injureth  his  own  soul,  and  after- 
wards asketh  pardon  of  God,  shall  find  God  gracious 
and  merciful.  Whoso  committeth  wickedness,  committeth  it 
Against  his  own  soul :  GOD  is  knowing  and  wise.  And  who- 
BO  committeth  a  sin  or  iniquity,  and  afterwards  layeth  it  on 
the  innocent,  he  shall  surely  bear  the  guilt  of  calumny  and 


114  AL  KORAN. 

manifest  injustice.  If  the  indulgence  and  mercy  of  GOD  had 
not  been  upon  thee,  surely  a  part  of  them  had  studied  to  se- 
duce thee ;  but  they  shall  seduce  themselves  only,  and  shall 
not  hurt  thee  at  all.  GOD  hath  sent  down  unto  thee  the 
book  of  the  Koran  and  wisdom,  and  hath  taught  thee  that 
which  thou  knewest  not ;  for  the  favor  of  GOD  hath  been 
great  towards  thee.  There  is  no  good  in  the  multitude  of 
their  private  discourses,  unless  in  the  discourse  of  him  who 
recommendeth  alms,  or  that  which  is  right,  or  agreement 
amongst  men  :  whoever  doth  this  out  of  a  desire  to  please 
GOD,  we  will  surely  give  him  a  great  reward.  But  whoso 
separateth  himself  from  the  apostle,  after  true  direction  hath 
been  manifested  unto  him,  and  followeth  any  other  way  than 
that  of  the  true  believers,  we  will  cause  him  to  obtain  that  to 
which  he  is  inclined,  and  will  cast  him  to  be  burned  in  hell ; 
and  an  unhappy  journey  shall  it  be  thither.  Verily  GOD  will 
not  pardon  the  giving  him  a  companion,  but  he  will  pardon 
any  crime  besides  that,  unto  whom  he  pleaseth :  and  he  who 
giveth  a  companion  unto  GOD  is  surely  led  aside  into  a 
wide  mistake ;  the  infidels  invoke  beside  him  only  female 
deities ;  and  only  invoke  rebellious  Satan.  GOD  cursed 
him  ;  and  he  said,  Verily  I  will  take  of  thy  servants  a  part 
cut  off  from  the  rest,  and  I  will  seduce  them,  and  will  insinu- 
ate vain  desires  into  them,  and  I  will  command  them  and 
they  shall  cut  off  the  ears  of  cattle ;  and  I  will  command 
them  and  they  shall  change  GOD'S  creature.  But  whoever 
taketh  Satan  for  his  patron,  besides  GOD,  shall  surely  perish 
with  a  manifest  destruction.  He  maketh  them  promises,  and 
insinuateth  into  them  vain  desires ;  yet  Satan  maketh  them 
only  deceitful  promises.  The  receptacle  of  these  shall  be 
hell,  they  shall  find  no  refuge  from  it.  But  they  who  be- 
lieve, and  do  good  works,  we  will  surely  lead  them  into  gar- 
dens, through  which  rivers  flow,  they  shall  continue  therein 
forever,  according  to  the  true  promise  of  GOD  ;  and  who  is 
more  true  than  GOD  in  what  he  saith  ?  It  shall  not  be  ac- 
cording to  your  desires,  nor  according  to  the  desires  of  those 
who  have  received  the  scriptures.1  Whoso  doth  evil  shall  be 
rewarded  for  it ;  and  shall  not  find  any  patron  or  helper,  be- 
side GOD  ;  but  whoso  doth  good  works,  whether  he  be  mala 
or  female,  and  is  a  true  believer,  they  shall  be  admitted  in- 
to paradise,  and  shall  not  in  the  least  be  unjustly  dealt  with. 
Who  is  better  in  point  of  religion  than  he  who  resigneth  him 


AL  KORAN.  115 

•elf  unto  GOD,  and  is  a  worker  of  righteousness,  and  follow 
efh  the  law  of  Abraham  the  orthodox  ?  since  God  took  Abra- 
ham for  his  friend :  and  to  God  belongeth  whatsoever  is  in 
heaven  and  on  earth ;  GOD  comprehendeth  all  things.1  They 
will  consult  thee  concerning  women ;  Answer,  GOD  instruct- 
eth  you  concerning  them,  and  that  which  is  read  unto  you  in 
the  book  of  the  Koran  concerning  female  orphans,  to  whom  ye 
give  not  that  which  is  ordained  them,  neither  will  ye  marry 
them,  and  concerning  weak  infants,  and  that  ye  observe  jus- 
tice towards  orphans :  whatever  good  ye  do,  GOD  knoweth  it. 
If  a  woman  fear  ill  usage,  or  aversion  from  her  husband,  it 
shall  be  no  crime  in  them  if  they  agree  the  matter  amicably 
between  themselves ;  for  a  reconciliation  is  better  than  a  sep- 
aration. Men's  souls  are  naturally  inclined  tc  covetousness : 
but  if  ye  be  kind  towards  women,  and  fear  to  wrong  them, 
GOD  is  well  acquainted  with  what  ye  do.  Ye  can  by  no 
means  carry  yourselves  equally  between  women  in  all  re- 
spects, although  ye  study  to  do  it ;  therefore  turn  not  from  a 
wife  with  all  manner  of  aversion,  nor  leave  her  like  one  in 
suspense  :  if  ye  agree,  and  fear  to  abuse  your  wives,  GOD  is 
gracious  and  merciful ;  but  if  they  separate,  GOD  will  satisfy 
them  both  of  his  abundance  ;  for  GOD  is  extensive  and  wise, 
and  unto  GOD  belongeth  whatsoever  is  in  heaven  and  on 
earth.  We  have  already  commanded  those  unto  whom  the 
scriptures  were  given  before  you,  and  we  command  you  also, 
saying,  Fear  GOD  ;  but  if  ye  disbelieve,  unto  GOD  belongeth 
whatsoever  is  in  heaven  and  on  earth ;  and  GOD  is  self-suf- 
ficient, and  to  be  praised ;  for  unto  GOD  belongeth  whatso- 
ever is  in  heaven  and  on  earth,  and  GOD  is  a  sufficient  pro- 
tector. If  he  pleaseth  he  will  take  you  away,  O  men,  and 
will  produce  others  in  your  stead;  for  GOD  is  able  to  do  this. 
Whoso  desireth  the  reward  of  this  world,  verily  with  GOD  is 
the  reward  of  this  world,  and  also  of  that  which  is  to  come; 
GOD  both  heareth  and  seeth.  O  true  believers,  observe  jus- 
tice when  ye  bear  witness  before  GOD,  although  it  be  against 
yourselves,  or  your  parents,  or  relations ;  whether  the  party 
be  rich,  or  whether  he  be  poor ;  for  GOD  is  more  worthy  than 
them  both:  therefore  follow  not  your  own  lust  in  bearing 
testimony  so  that  ye  swerve  from  justice.  And  whether  y 
wrest  your  evidence,  or  decline  giving  it,  GOD  is  well  ac- 
quainted with  that  which  ye  do.  O  true  believers,  believe 
in  GOD  and  his  apostle,  and  the  book  which  he  hath  caused 


116  AL  KORAN. 

to  descend  unto  his  apostle,  and  the  book  which  he  hath  for 
merly  sent  down.  And  whosoever  belie veth  not  in  Gou 
and  his  angels,  and  his  scriptures,  and  his  apostles,  and  the 
last  day,  he  surely  erreth  in  a  wide  mistake.  Moreover  they 
who  believed,  and  afterwards  became  infidels,  and  then  be- 
lieved again,  and  after  that  disbelieved,  and  increased  in 
infidelity,  GOD  will  by  no  means  forgive  them,  nor  direct 
them  into  the  right  way.1  Declare  unto  the  ungodly  that 
they  shall  suffer  a  painful  punishment.  They  who  take  the 
unbelievers  for  their  protectors,  besides  the  faithful,  do  they 
seek  for  power  with  them  ?  since  all  power  belongeth  unto 
GOD.  And  he  hath  already  revealed  unto  you,  in  the  book 
of  the  Koran,  the  following  passage  —  When  ye  shall  hear 
the  signs  of  GOD,  they  shall  not  be  believed,  but  they  shall 
be  laughed  to  scorn.  Therafore  sit  not  with  them  who  be- 
lieve not,  until  they  engage  in  different  discourse  ;  for  if  ye 
do i  ye  will  certainly  become  like  unto  them.  GOD  will  surely 
gather  the  ungodly  and  the  unbelievers  together  in  hell. 
They  who  wait  to  observe  what  befalletk  you,  if  victory  be 
granted  you  from  GOD,  say,  Were  we  not  with  you  ?  But 
if  any  advantage  happen  to  the  infidels,  they  say  unto  them, 
Were  we  not  superior  to  you,  and  have  we  not  defended 
you  against  the  believers  ?  GOD  shall  judge  between  you 
on  the  day  of  resurrection :  and  GOD  will  not  grant  the  un- 
believers means  to  prevail  over  the  faithful.  The  hypocrites 
act  deceitfully  with  GOD,  but  he  will  deceive  them;  and 
when  they  stand  up  to  pray,  they  stand  carelessly,  affecting 
to  be  seen  of  men,  and  remember  not  GOD,  unless  a  little, 
wavering  between  faith  and  infidelity,  and  adhering  neither 
unto  these  nor  unto  those :  and  for  him  whom  GOD  shall 
lead  astray  thou  shalt  find  no  true  path.  O  true  believer?, 
take  not  the  unbelievers  for  your  protectors  besides  the  faith- 
ful. Will  ye  furnish  GOD  with  an  evident  argument  of  im- 
piety against  you  ?  Moreover  the  hypocrites  shall  be  in  the 
lowest  bottom  of  heU  fire,  and  thou  shalt  not  find  any  to  help 
them  thence.  But  they  who  repent  and  amend,  and  adhere 
firmly  unto  GOD,  and  approve  the  sincerity  of  their  religion 
to  GOD,  they  shall  be  numbered  with  the  faithful ;  and  GOD 
will  surely  give  the  faithful  a  great  reward.  And  how  should 
GOD  go  about  to  punish  you,  if  ye  be  thankful  and  believe  ? 
for  GOD  is  grateful  and  wise.  GOD  loveth  not  the  speak- 
ing ill  of  any  one  in  public,  unless  he  who  is  injured  call  fv> 


AL  KORAN.  117 

assistance  ;  and  GOD  heareth  and  knoweth :  whether  ye  pub* 
lish  a  good  action,  or  conceal  it,  or  forgive  evil,  verily  GOD 
is  gracious  and  powerful.  They  who  believe  not  in  GOD, 
and  his  apo-tles,  and  would  make  a  distinction  between 
GOD  and  his  apostles,  and  say,  We  believe  in  some  of  the 
prophets  and  reject  others  of  them,  and  seek  to  take  a  middle 
way  in  this  matter ;  these  are  really  unbelievers :  and  we 
have  prepared  for  the  unbelievers  an  ignominious  punish- 
ment. But  they  who  believe  in  GOD  and  his  apostles,  and 
make  no  distinction  between  any  of  them,  unto  those  will  we 
surely  give  their  reward ;  and  GOD  is  gracious  and  merciful. 
They  who  have  received  the  scriptures  will  demand  of  thee, 
that  thou  cause  a  book  to  descend  unto  them  from  heaven : 
they  formerly  asked  of  Moses  a  greater  thing  than  this  :  for 
they  said,  Show  us  GOD  visibly.  Wherefore  a  storm  of  fire 
from  heaven  destroyed  them,  because  of  their  iniquity.  Then 
they  took  the  calf  for  their  God,  after  that  evident  proofs  of 
the  divine  unity  had  come  unto  them :  but  we  forgave  them 
that,  and  gave  Moses  a  manifest  power  to  punish  them.  And 
we  lifted  the  mountain  of  Sinai  over  them,  when  we  exacted 
from  them  their  covenant;  and  said  unto  them,  Enter  the 
gate  of  the  city  worshipping.  We  also  said  unto  them,  Trans- 
gress not  on  the  Sabbath-day.  And  we  received  from  them 
a  firm  covenant,  that  they  would  observe  these  things.  There- 
fore for  that  they  have  made  void  their  covenant,  and  have 
not  believed  in  the  signs  of  GOD,  and  have  slain  the  proph- 
ets unjustly,  and  have  said,  Our  hearts  are  circumcised ; 
(but  GOD  hath  sealed  them  up,  because  of  their  unbelief; 
therefore  they  shall  not  believe,  except  a  few  of  them:)  and 
for  that  they  have  not  believed  in  Jesus,  and  have  spoken 
Against  Mary  a  grievous  calumny  ;  and  have  said,  Verily  we 
have  slain  Christ  Jesus  the  son  of  Mary,  the  apostle  of  GOD  ; 
yet  they  slew  him  not,  neither  crucified  him,  but  he  was 
represented  by  one  in  his  likeness  ;  and  verily  they  who  dis- 
agreed concerning  him  were  in  a  doubt  as  to  this  matter,  and 
had  no  sure  knowledge  thereof,  but  followed  only  an  uncertain 
opinion.  They  did  not  really  kill  him ;  but  GOD  took  him 
up  unto  himself :  and  GOD  is  mighty  and  wise.  And  there 
shall  not  be  one  of  those  who  have  received  the  scriptures, 
who  shall  not  believe  in  him,  before  his  death ;  and  on  the 
day  of  resurrection  he  shall  be  a  witness  against  them.1  Be 
cause  of  the  iniquity  of  those  who  Judaize,  we  have  forbid- 


118  *L  KORAN. 

den  them  good  things,  which  had  been  formerly  allowed 
them ;  and  because  they  shut  out  many  from  the  way  of 
GOD,  and  have  taken  usury,  which  was  forbidden  them  by 
the  law,  and  devoured  men's  substance  vainly  :  we  have  pre- 
pared for  such  of  them  as  are  unbelievers  a  painful  punish- 
ment. But  those  among  them  who  are  well  grounded  in 
knowledge,  and  the  faithful,  who  believe  in  that  which  hath 
been  sent  down  unto  thee,  and  that  which  hath  been  sent 
down  unto  the  prophets  before  thee,  and  who  observe  the 
stated  times  of  prayer,  and  give  alms,  and  believe  in  GOD 
and  the  last  day  unto  these  will  we  give  a  great  reward. 
Verily  we  have  revealed  our  will  unto  thee,  as  we  have  re- 
vealed it  unto  Noah  and  the  prophets  who  succeeded  him ; 
and  as  we  revealed  it  unto  Abraham,  and  Ismael,  and  Isaac, 
and  Jacob,  and  the  tribes,  and  unto  Jesus,  and  Job,  and  Jonas, 
and  Aaron,  and  Solomon  ;  and  we  have  given  thee  the  Koran, 
as  we  gave  the  psalms  unto  David :  some  apostles  have  we 
sent,  whom  we  have  formerly  mentioned  unto  thee  ;  and  other 
apostles  have  we  sent,  whom  we  have  not  mentioned  unto 
thee ;  and  GOD  spake  unto  Moses,  discoursing  with  him ; 
apostles  declaring  good  tidings,  and  denouncing  threats,  lest 
men  should  have  an  argument  of  excuse  against  GOD,  after 
the  apostles  had  been  sent  unto  them;  GOD  is  mighty  and 
wise.  GOD  is  witness  of  that  revelation  which  he  hath  sent 
down  unto  thee  ;  he  sent  it  down  with  his  special  knowledge  : 
the  angels  also  are  witnesses  thereof;  but  GOD  is  a  sufficient 
witness.  They  who  believe  not,  and  turn  aside  others  from 
the  way  of  GOD,  have  erred  in  a  wide  mistake.  Verily  those 
who  believe  not,  and  act  unjustly,  GOD  will  by  no  means  for- 
give, neither  will  he  direct  them  into  any  other  way,  than  the 
way  of  hell ;  they  shall  remain  therein  forever :  and  this  is 
easy  with  GOD.  O  men,  now  is  the  apostle  come  unto  you, 
with  truth  from  your  LORD  ;  believe  therefore,  it  witt  be 
better  for  you.  But  if  ye  disbelieve,  verily  unto  GOD  be- 
longeth  whatsoever  is  in  heaven  and  on  earth  ;  and  GOD  is 
knowing  and  wise.  O  ye  who  have  received  the  scriptures, 
exceed  not  the  just  bounds  in  your  religion,  neither  say  of 
GOD  any  other  than  the  truth.  Verily  Christ  Jesus  the  son 
of  Mary  is  the  apostle  of  GOD,  and  his  Word,  which  he  con- 
veyed into  Mary,  and  a  spirit  proceeding  from  him.  Believe 
therefore  in  GOD,  and  his  apostles,  and  say  not,  There  art 
three  Gods  ;  forbear  this ;  it  will  be  better  for  you.  GOD  is 


AL  KORAN.  119 

but  one  GOD.  Far  be  it  from  him  that  he  should  have  a  SOD  ; 
unto  him  belongeth  whatever  t*  in  heaven  and  on  earth ;  and 
GOD  is  a  sufficient  protector.  Christ  doth  not  proudly  disdain 
to  be  a  servant  unto  GOD  ;  neither  the  angels  who  approach 
near  to  his  presence :  and  whoso  disdaineth  his  service,  and 
is  puffed  up  with  pride,  God  will  gather  them  all  to  himself, 
on  the  last  day.  Unto  those  who  believe,  and  do  that  which 
is  right,  he  shall  give  their  rewards,  and  shall  superabun- 
dantly add  unto  them  of  his  liberality :  but  those  who  are 
disdainful  and  proud,  he  will  punish  with  a  grievous  punish- 
ment ;  and  they  shall  not  find  any  to  protect  or  to  help  them, 
besides  GOD.  O  men,  now  is  an  evident  proof  come  unto  you 
from  your  LORD,  and  we  have  sent  down  unto  you  man- 
ifest light.  They  who  believe  in  GOD  and  firmly  adhere 
to  him,  he  will  lead  them  into  mercy  from  him,  and  abun- 
dance ;  and  he  will  direct  them  in  the  right  way  to  himself. 
They  will  consult  thee  for  thy  decision  in  certain  cases  ;  say 
unto  them,  GOD  giveth  you  these  determinations,  concerning 
the  more  remote  degrees  of  kindred.  If  a  man  die  without 
issue,  and  have  a  sister,  she  shall  have  the  half  of  what  he 
shall  leave :  and  he  shall  be  heir  to  her,  in  case  she  have  no 
issue.  But  if  there  be  two  sisters  they  shall  have  between 
them  two  third  parts  of  what  he  shall  leave ;  and  if  there  be 
several,  both  brothers  and  sisters,  a  male  shall  have  as  much 
as  the  portion  of  two  females.  GOD  declareth  unto  you  these 
precepts,  lest  ye  err :  and  GOD  knoweth  all  things. 


CHAPTER  V. 

DffTITLED,   THE    TABLE;    REVEALED    AT   MEDDTA. 
IV    THB    VAJCB    OV    THE   MOST    MEBCIFUL   GOD. 

O  TRUE  believers,  perform  your  contracts.  Ye  are  allowed 
to  eat  the  brute  cattle,  other  than  what  ye  are  commanded  to 
Abstain  from  ;  except  the  game  which  ye  are  allowed  at  othet 
times,  but  not  while  ye  are  on  pilgrimage  to  Mecca  ;  GOD 
trdaineth  that  which  he  p  lease  th.  O  true  believers,  violate 
not  the  holy  rites  of  GOD,  nor  the  sacred  month,  nor  the  of- 


120  AL  KORAN. 

fering,  nor  the  ornaments  hung  thereon,  nor  those  who  are 
travelling  to  the  holy  house,  seeking  favor  from  their  LORD, 
and  to  please  him.  But  when  ye  shall  have  finished  yuut 
pilgrimage  ;  then  hunt  And  let  not  the  malice  of  some,  in 
that  they  hindered  you  from  entering  the  sacred  temple, 
provoke  you  to  transgress,  by  taking  revenge  on  them  in  the 
tacred  months.  Assist  one  another  according  to  justice  and 
piety,  but  assist  not  one  another  in  injustice  and  malice : 
therefore  fear  GOD  ;  for  GOD  is  severe  in  punishing.  Ye 
are  forbidden  to  eat  that  which  dieth  of  itself,  and  blood,  and 
swine's  flesh,  and  that  on  whi  ii  the  name  of  any  besides 
GOD  hath  been  invocated ;  and  Aat  which  hath  been  stran- 
gled, or  killed  by  a  blow,  or  by  a  fall,  or  by  the  horns  of 
another  beast,  and  that  which  hath  been  eaten  by  a  wild 
beast,  except  what  ye  shall  kill  yourselves  ;  and  that  which 
hath  been  sacrificed  unto  idols.  It  is  likewise  unlawful  for 
you  to  make  division  by  casting  lots  with  arrows.  This  is 
an  impiety.  On  this  day,  woe  be  unto  those  who  have  apos- 
tatized from  their  religion ;  therefore  fear  not  them,  but  fear 
me.  This  day  have  I  perfected  your  religion  for  you,  and 
have  completed  my  mercy  upon  you  ;  and  I  have  chosen 
for  you  Islam,  to  be  your  religion.  But  whosoever  shall  be 
driven  by  necessity  through  hunger,  to  eat  of  what  we  have 
forbidden,  not  designing  to  sin,  surely  GOD  will  be  indulgent 
and  merciful  unto  him.  They  will  ask  thee  what  is  allowed 
them  as  lawful  to  eat  ?  Answer,  such  things  as  are  good  are 
allowed  you ;  and  what  ye  shall  teach  animals  of  prey  to 
catch,  training  them  up  for  hunting  after  the  manner  of  dogs, 
and  teaching  them  according  to  the  skill  which  GOD  bath 
taught  you.  Eat  therefore  of  that  which  they  shall  catch 
for  you ;  and  commemorate  the  name  of  GOD  thereon  ;  and 
fear  GOD,  for  GOD  is  swift  in  taking  an  account.  This  day 
are  ye  allowed  to  eat  such  things  as  are  good,  and  the  food 
of  those  to  whom  the  scriptures  were  given  is  also  allowed 
as  lawful  unto  you  ;  and  your  food  is  allowed  as  lawful  unto 
them.  And  ye  are  also  allowed  to  marry  free  women  that  are 
believers,  and  also  free  women  of  those  who  have  received  the 
scriptures  before  you,  when  ye  shall  have  assigned  them 
their  dower ;  living  chastely  with  them,  neither  committing 
fornication,  nor  taking  them  for  concubines.  Whoever  shall 
renounce  the  faith,  his  work  shall  be  vain,  and  in  the  next 
life  he  shall  be  of  those  who  perish.  O  true  believers,  when 


AL  KORAN.  121 

ye  prepare  yourselves  to  pray,  wash  your  faces,  and  youi 
hands  unto  the  elbows ;  and  rub  your  heads,  and  your  feet 
unto  the  ankles ;  and  if  ye  be  polluted  by  having  lain  with 
a  woman,  wash  yourselves  all  over.  But  if  ye  be  sick,  or  on 
a  journey,  or  any  of  you  cometh  from  the  privy,  or  if  ye 
have  touched  women,  and  ye  find  no  water,  take  fine  clean 
sand,  and  rub  your  faces  and  your  hands  therewith ;  GOD 
would  not  put  a  difficulty  upon  you ;  but  he  desireth  to 
purify  you,  and  to  complete  his  favor  upon  you,  that  ye  may 
give  thanks.  Remember  the  favor  of  GOD  towards  you,  and 
his  covenant  which  he  hath  made  with  you,  when  ye  said, 
We  have  heard,  and  will  obey.  Therefore  fear  God,  for 
God  knoweth  the  innermost  parts  of  the  breasts  of  men.  O 
true  believers,  observe  justice  when  ye  appear  as  witnesses 
before  GOD,  and  let  not  hatred  towards  any  induce  you  to  do 
wrong  :  but  act  justly  ;  this  will  approach  nearer  unto  piety ; 
and  fear  GOD,  for  GOD  is  fully  acquainted  with  what  ye  do. 
GOD  hath  promised  unto  those  who  believe,  and  do  that 
which  is  right,  that  they  shall  receive  pardon  and  a  great 
reward.  But  they  who  believe  not,  and  accuse  our  signs 
of  falsehood,  they  shall  be  the  companions  of  hell.  O  true 
believers,  remember  God's  favor  towards  you,  when  certain 
men  designed  to  stretch  forth  their  hands  against  you,  but  he 
restrained  their  hands  from  hurting  you ;  therefore  fear  GOD 
and  in  GOD  let  the  faithful  trust.  GOD  formerly  accepted 
the  covenant  of  the  children  of  Israel,  and  we  appointed  out 
of  them  twelve  leaders :  and  GOD  said,  Verily  I  am  with  you : 
if  ye  observe  prayer,  and  give  alms,  and  believe  in  my  apos- 
tles, and  assist  them,  and  lend  unto  GOD  on  good  usury,  I  will 
surely  expiate  your  evil  deeds  from  you,  and  I  will  lead  yon 
into  gardens,  wherein  rivers  flow:  but  he  among  you  who 
disbelieveth  after  this,  erreth  from  the  straight  path.  Where- 
fore because  they  have  broken  their  covenant,  we  have  cursed 
them,  and  hardened  their  hearts ;  they  dislocate  the  words  of 
the  Pentateuch  from  their  places,  and  have  forgotten  part  of 
what  they  were  admonished ;  and  thou  wilt  not  cease  to  dis- 
cover deceitful  practices  among  them,  except  a  few  of  them. 
But  forgive  them,  and  pardon  them,  for  GOD  loveth  the 
beneficent.  And  from  those  who  say,  We  are  Christians,  we 
have  received  their  covenant ;  but  they  have  forgotten  part 
of  what  they  were  admonished ;  wherefore  we  have  raised  up 
enmity  and  hatred  among  them,  till  the  day  of  resurrection  ,• 


122  AL  KOBAN. 

and  GOD  will  then  surely  declare  unto  them  what  they  hav« 
been  doing.  0  ye  who  have  received  the  scriptures,  now 
is  our  apostle  come  unto  you,  to  make  manifest  unto  you 
many  things  which  ye  concealed  in  the  scriptures ;  and 
to  pass  over  many  things.  Now  is  light  and  a  perspicuous 
book  of  revelations  come  unto  you  from  God.  Thereby  will 
GOD  direct  him  who  shall  follow  his  good  pleasure,  into  the 
paths  of  peace;  and  shall  lead  them  out  of  darkness  into 
light,  by  his  will,  and  shall  direct  them  in  the  right  way. 
They  are  infidels,  who  say,  Verily  GOD  is  Christ  the  son  of 
Mary.  Say  unto  them,  And  who  could  obtain  anything  from 
GOD  to  the  contrary,  if  he  pleased  to  destroy  Christ  the  son 
of  Mary,  and  his  mother,  and  all  those  who  are  on  the  earth  ? 
For  unto  GOD  belongeth  the  kingdom  of  heaven  and  earth, 
and  whatsoever  is  contained  between  them ;  he  createth 
what  he  pleaseth,  and  GOD  is  almighty.  The  Jews  and  the 
Christians  say,  We  are  the  children  of  GOD  and  his  beloved. 
Answer,  Why  therefore  doth  he  punish  you  for  your  sins  ? 
Nay,  but  ye  are  men,  of  those  whom  he  hath  created.  He 
forgiveth  whom  he  pleaseth,  and  punisheth  whom  he  pleas- 
eth; and  unto  GOD  belongeth  the  kingdom  of  heaven  and 
earth,  and  of  what  is  contained  between  them  both  ;  and  unto 
him  shall  all  things  return.  O  ye  who  have  received  the 
scriptures,  now  is  our  apostle  come  unto  you,  declaring  unto 
you  the  true  religion,  during  the  cessation  of  apostles,  lest  ye 
should  say,  There  came  unto  us  no  bearer  of  good  tidings, 
nor  any  warner :  but  now  is  a  bearer  of  good  tidings,  and  a 
warner  come  unto  you ;  for  GOD  is  almighty.  Gall  to  mind 
when  Moses  said  unto  his  people,  O  my  people,  remember 
the  favor  of  GOD  towards  you,  since  he  hath  appointed 
prophets  among  you,  and  constituted  you  kings,  and  be- 
stowed on  you  what  he  hath  given  to  no  other  nation  in 
the  world.  O  my  people,  enter  the  holy  land,  which  GOD 
hath  decreed  you,  and  turn  not  your  backs,  lest  ye  be  sub- 
verted and  perish.  They  answered,  0  Moses,  verily  there 
are  a  gigantic  people  in  the  land ;  and  we  will  by  no  means 
enter  it,  until  they  depart  thence ;  but  if  they  depart  thence, 
then  will  we  enter  therein.  And  two  men  of  those  who 
feared  GOD,  unto  whom  GOD  had  been  gracious,  said,  Enter 
ye  upon  them  suddenly  by  the  gate  of  the  city ;  and  when  ye 
shall  have  entered  the  same,  ye  shall  surely  be  victorious : 
therefore  trust  in  GOD,  if  ye  are  true  believers.  They  re- 


AL  KORAN.  123 

4ied,  0  Moses,  we  will  never  enter  the  land,  while  they 
remain  therein  :  go  therefore  thou,  and  thy  LORD,  and  fight ; 
for  we  will  sit  here.  Moses  said,  O  LORD,  surely  I  am  not 
master  of  any  except  myself,  and  my  brother ;  therefore 
make  a  distinction  between  us  and  the  ungodly  people. 
GOD  answered,  Verily  the  land  shall  be  forbidden  them 
forty  years ;  during  which  time  they  shall  wander  like  men 
astonished  on  the  earth ;  therefore  be  not  thou  solicitous  fo? 
the  ungodly  people.  Relate  unto  them  also  the  history  cf 
the  two  sons  of  Adam,  with  truth.  When  they  offered  theit 
offering,  and  it  was  accepted  from  one  of  them,  and  was  n 
accepted  from  the  other,  Cain  said  to  his  brother,  I  will  cer- 
tainly kifl  thee.1  Abel  answered,  GOD  only  accepteth  the 
offering  of  the  pious ;  if  thou  stretchest  forth  thy  hand 
against  me,  to  slay  me,  I  will  not  stretch  forth  my  hand 
against  thee,  to  slay  thee ;  for  I  fear  GOD,  the  LORD  of  all 
creatures.  I  choose  that  thou  shouldest  bear  my  iniquity 
and  thine  own  iniquity  ;  and  that  thou  become  a  companion 
of  heU  fire ;  for  that  is  the  reward  of  the  unjust.  But  hi? 
soul  suffered  him  to  slay  his  brother,  and  he  slew  him ; 
wherefore  he  became  of  the  number  of  those  who  perish. 
And  GOD  sent  a  raven,  which  scratched  the  earth,  to  show 
him  how  he  should  hide  the  shame  of  his  brother,  and  he 
said,  Woe  is  me !  am  I  unable  to  be  like  this  raven,  that  I 
may  hide  my  brother's  shame  ?  and  he  became  one  of  those 
who  repent.2  Wherefore  we  commanded  the  children  of  Is- 
rael, that  he  who  slayeth  a  soul,  without  having  slain  a  soul, 
or  committed  wickedness  in  the  earth,  shall  be  as  if  he  had 
slain  all  mankind :  but  he  who  saveth  a  soul  alive,  shall  be 
as  if  he  had  saved  the  lives  of  all  mankind.  Our  apostles 
formerly  came  unto  them,  with  evident  miracles  ;  then  were 
many  of  them  after  this,  transgressors  on  the  earth.  But  the 
recompense  of  those  who  fight  against  GOD  and  his  apostle, 
and  study  to  act  corruptly  in  the  earth,  shall  be,  that  they 
shall  be  slain,  or  crucified,  or  have  their  hands  and  their  feet 
cut  off  on  the  opposite  sides,  or  be  banished  the  land.  This 
shall  be  their  disgrace  in  this  world,  and  in  the  next  world 
they  shall  suffer  a  grievous  punishment ;  except  those  who 
shall  repent,  before  ye  prevail  against  them ;  for  know  that 
GOD  is  inclined  to  forgive,  and  merciful.  O  true  believers, 
tear  GOD,  and  earnestly  desire  a  near  conjunction  with  him, 
»nd  fight  for  his  religion,  that  ye  may  be  happy.  Moreovei 


124  AL   KORAN. 

they  who  believe  not,  although  they  had  whatever  it  in  th« 
earth,  and  as  much  more  withal,  that  they  might  therewith 
redeem  themselves  from  punishment  on  the  day  of  resurrec- 
tion ;  it  shall  not  be  accepted  from  them,  but  they  shall  suffer 
a  painful  punishment.  They  shall  desire  to  go  forth  from 
the  fire,  but  they  shall  not  go  forth  from  it,  and  their  punish- 
me.it  shall  be  permanent.  If  a  man  or  a  woman  steal,  cut 
off  their  hands,  in  retribution  for  that  which  they  have  com- 
mitted ;  this  is  an  exemplary  punishment  appointed  by  GOD  ; 
and  GOD  is  mighty  and  wise.  But  whoever  >liall  repent 
after  his  iniquity,  and  amend,  verily  GOD  will  be  turned 
unto  him,  for  GOD  is  inclined  to  forgive,  and  merciful. 
Dost  thou  not  know  that  the  kingdom  of  heaven  and  earth 
is  GOD'S  ?  He  punisheth  whom  he  pleaseth,  and  he  par- 
doneth  whom  he  pleaseth  ;  for  GOD  is  almighty.  O  apostle, 
let  not  them  grieve  thee,  who  hasten  to  infidelity,  either  of 
those  who  say,  We  believe,  with  their  mouths,  but  whose 
hearts  believe  not ;  or  of  the  Jews,  who  hearken  to  a  lie,  and 
hearken  to  other  people ;  who  come  unto  thee  :  they  pervert 
the  words  of  the  law  from  their  true  plaices,  and  say,  If  this 
be  brought  unto  you,  receive  it;  but  if  it  be  not  brought  unto 
you,  beware  of  receiving  aught  else;  and  in  behalf  of  him 
whom  GOD  shall  resolve  to  seduce,  thou  shalt  not  prevail 
with  GOD  at  all.  They  whose  hearts  GOD  shall  not  please 
to  cleanse  shall  suffer  shame  in  this  world,  and  a  grievous 
punishment  in  the  next :  who  hearken  to  a  lie,  and  cat  that 
which  is  forbidden.  But  if  they  come  unto  thee  for  judg- 
ment, either  judge  between  them,  or  leave  them  ;  and  if  thou 
leave  them,  they  shall  not  hurt  thee  at  all.  But  if  thou  un- 
dertake to  judge,  judge  between  them  with  equity ;  for  GOD 
loveth  those  who  observe  justice.  And  how  will  they  submit 
to  thy  decision,  since  they  have  the  law,  containing  the  judg- 
ment of  GOD  ?  Then  will  they  turn  their  backs,  after  this ; 
but  those  are  not  true  believers.  We  have  surely  sent  down 
the  law,  containing  direction,  and  light :  thereby  did  the 
prophets,  who  professed  the  true  religion,  judge  those  who 
judaized  ;  and  the  doctors  and  priests  also  judged  by  the  book 
of  GOD,  which  had  been  committed  to  their  custody ;  and 
they  were  witnesses  thereof.  Therefore  fear  not  men,  but 
fear  me  ;  neither  sell  my  signs  for  a  small  price.  And  who- 
so judgeth  not  according  to  what  GOD  hath  revealed,  they 
are  infidels.  We  have  therein  commanded  them,  that  the$ 


AL  KORAN.  125 

ihotild  (five  life  for  life,  and  eye  for  eye,  and  nose  for 
nose,  and  ear  for  ear,  and  tooth  for  tooth ;  and  that  wounds 
thoidd  also  be  punished  by  retaliation :  but  whoever  shoulc1 
remit  it  as  alms,  it  should  be  accepted  as  an  atonement  for 
him.  And  whoso  judgeth  not  according  to  what  GOD  hath 
revealed,  they  are  unjust.  We  also  caused  Jesus  the  son  of 
Mary  to  follow  the  footsteps  of  the  prophets,  confirming  the 
law  which  was  sent  down  before  him  ;  and  we  gave  him  the 
gospel,  containing  direction  and  light ;  confirming  also  the 
law  which  was  given  before  it,  and  a  direction  and  admoni- 
tion tinto  those  who  fear  God :  that  they  who  have  received 
the  gospel  might  judge  according  to  what  GOD  hath  revealed 
therein:  and  whoso  judgeth  not  according  to  what  GOD  hath 
revealed,  they  are  transgressors.  We  have  also  sent  down 
unto  thee  the  book  of  the  Koran  with  truth,  confirming  that 
scripture  which  was  revealed  before  it;  and  preserving  the 
same  safe  from  corruption.  Judge  therefore  between  them 
according  to  that  which  GOD  hath  revealed ;  and  follow  not 
their  desires,  by  swerving  from  the  truth  which  hath  come 
unto  thee.  Unto  every  of  you  have  we  given  a  law,  and  an 
open  path  ;  and  if  GOD  had  pleased,  he  had  surely  made  you 
one  people ;  but  he  hath  thought  jit  to  give  you  different  laws, 
that  he  might  try  you  in  that  which  he  hath  given  you 
respectively.  Therefore  strive  to  excel  each  other  in  good 
works :  unto  GOD  shall  ye  all  return,  and  then  will  he 
declare  unto  you  that  concerning  which  ye  have  disagreed. 
Wherefore  do  thou,  0  prophet,  judge  between  them  accord- 
ing to  that  which  GOD  hath  revealed,  and  follow  not  their 
desires ;  but  beware  of  them,  lest  they  cause  thee  to  err 
from  part  of  those  precepts  which  GOD  hath  sent  down  unto 
thee ;  and  if  they  turn  back,  know  that  GOD  is  pleased  to 
punish  them  for  some  of  their  crimes ;  for  a  great  number 
of  men  are  transgressors.  Do  they  therefore  desire  the  judg- 
ment of  the  time  of  ignorance  ?  but  who  is  better  than  GOD, 
to  judge  between  people  who  reason  aright  ?  O  true  believ- 
ers, take  not  the  Jews  or  Christians  for  your  friends  ;  they 
are  friends  the  one  to  the  other  ;  but  whoso  among  you 
taketh  them  for  his  friends,  he  is  surely  one  of  them :  verily 
GOD  directeth  not  unjust  people.  Thou  shalt  see  those  in 
whose  hearts  there  is  an  infirmity,  to  hasten  unto  them, 
gaying,  We  fear  lest  some  adversity  befall  us;  but  it  it 
easy  for  GOD  to  give  victory,  or  a  command  from  him,  thai 


126  AL  KORAN. 

they  may  repent  of  that  which  they  concealed  in  their  minds. 
And  they  who  believe  will  say,  Are  these  the  men  who  have 
eworn  by  GOD,  with  a  most  firm  oath,  that  they  surely  held 
with  you?   their  works  are  become  vain,  and  they  are  of 
those  who  perish.     O  true  believers,  whoever  of  you  aposta- 
tizeth  from  his  religion,  GOD  will  certainly  bring  other  people 
to  supply  his  place,  whom  he  will  love,  and  who  will  love 
him  ;  who  shall  be  humble  towards  the  believers  ;  but  severe 
to  the  .unbelievers :  they  shall  fight  for  the  religion  of  GOD, 
and  shall  not  fear  the  obloquy  of  the  detractor.1   This  is  the 
bounty  of  GOD,  he  bestoweth  it  on  whom  he  pleaseth  :   GOD 
I*  extensive  and  wise.     Verily  your  protector  is  GOD,  and 
his  apostle,  and  those  who  believe,  who  observe  the  stated 
times  of  prayer,  and  give  aims,  and  who  bow  down  to  wor- 
thip.     And  whoso  taketh  GOD,  and  his  apostle,  and  the  be- 
lievers for  his  friends,  they  are  the  party  of  GOD,  and  they 
shall  be  victorious.     O  true  believers,  take  not  such  of  those 
to  whom  the  scriptures  were  delivered  before  you,  or  of  the 
infidels,  for  your  friends,  who  make  a  laughing-stock,  and  a 
jest  of  your  religion  ;  but  fear  GOD,  if  ye  be  true  believers  ; 
nor  those  who  when  ye  call  to  prayer,  make  a  laughing-stock 
and  a  jest  of  it ;  this  they  do,  because  they  are  people  who 
do  not  understand.     Say,  O  ye  who  have  received  the  scrip- 
tures, do  ye  reject  us  for  any  other  reason  than  because  we 
believe  in  GOD,  and  that  revelation  which  hath  been  sent 
down  unto  us,  and  that  which  was  formerly  seat  down,  and 
for  that  the  greater  part  of  you  are  transgressor?  ?     Say, 
Shall  I  denounce  unto  you  a  worse  thing  than  this,  as  to  the 
reward  which  ye  are  to  expect  with  GOD  ?     He  whom  GOD 
hath  cursed,  and  with  whom   he  hath  been  angry,  having 
changed  some  of  them  into  apes  and  swine,  and  who  worship 
Taghut,  they  are  in  the  worse  condition,  and  err  more  widely 
from  the  straightness  of  the  path.     When  they  came  unto 
you,  they  said,  We  believe :  yet  they  entered  into  your  com- 
pany with  infidelity,  and  went  forth  from  you  with  the  same; 
but  GOD  well  knew  what  they  concealed.     Thou  shalt  see 
raany  of  them  hastening  unto  iniquity  and  malice,  and  to  eat 
firings  forbidden  ;  and  woe  unto  them  for  what  they  have  done. 
Unless  their  doctors  and  priests  forbid  them  uttering  wicked- 
ness, and  eating  things  forbidden  ;  woe  unto  them  for  what  they 
shall  have  committed.     The  Jews  say,  The  hand  of  GOD  if 
tied  up.2  Their  hands  shall  be  tied  up,  and  they  shall  b« 


AL  KORAN.  187 

cursed  for  that  which  they  have  said.  Nay  his  hands  are 
both  stretched  forth ;  he  bestoweth  as  he  pleaseth :  that  whicL 
hath  been  sent  down  unto  thee  from  thy  LORD  shall  increase 
the  transgression  and  infidelity  of  many  of  them  ;  and  we 
have  put  enmity  and  hatred  between  them,  until  the  day 
of  resurrection.  So  often  as  they  shall  kindle  a  fire  for  war 
GOD  shall  extinguish  it ;  and  they  shall  set  their  minds  to 
act  corruptly  in  the  earth,  but  GOD  loveth  not  the  corrupt 
doers.  Moreover  if  they  who  have  received  the  scriptures 
believe,  and  fear  God,  we  will  surely  expiate  their  sins  from 
them,  and  we  will  lead  them  into  gardens  of  pleasure  ;  and 
if  they  observe  the  law,  and  the  gospel,  and  the  other  scrip- 
tures which  have  been  sent  down  unto  them  from  their  LORD, 
they  shall  surely  eat  of  good  things  both  from  above  them, 
and  from  under  their  feet.  Among  them  there  are  people 
who  act  uprightly ;  but  how  evil  is  that  which  many  of  them 
do  work  !  O  apostle,  publish  the  whole  of  that  which  hath 
been  sent  down  unto  thee  from  thy  LORD  :  for  if  thou  do 
not,  thou  dost  not  in  effect  publish  any  part  thereof;  and 
GOD  will  defend  thee  against  wicked  men  ;  for  GOD  direct- 
eth  not  the  unbelieving  people.  Say,  O  ye  who  have  re- 
ceived the  scriptures,  ye  are  not  grounded  on  anything,  until 
ye  observe  the  law  and  the  gospel  and  that  which  hath  been 
sent  down  unto  you  from  your  LORD.  That  which  hath 
been  sent  down  unto  thee  from  thy  LORD  will  surely  in- 
crease the  transgression  and  infidelity  of  many  of  them :  but 
be  not  thou  solicitous  for  the  unbelieving  people.  Verily 
they  who  believe,  and  those  who  Judaize,  and  the  Sabians, 
and  the  Christians,  whoever  of  them  believeth  in  GOD  and 
the  last  day,  and  doth  that  which  is  right,  there  shall  come  no 
fear  on  them,  neither  shall  they  be  grieved.  We  formerly 
accepted  the  covenant  of  the  children  of  Israel,  and  sent  apos- 
tles unto  them.  So  often  as  an  apostle  came  unto  them  with 
that  which  their  souls  desired  not,  they  accused  some  of  them 
of  imposture,  and  some  of  them  they  killed :  and  they  im- 
agined that  there  should  be  no  punishment  for  those  crimes, 
and  they  became  blind,  and  deaf.  Then  was  GOD  turned 
unto  them ;  afterwards  many  of  them  again  became  blind 
and  deaf;  but  GOD  saw  what  they  did.  They  are  surely 
mfidels,  who  say,  Verily  GOD  is  Christ  the  son  of  Mary ; 
lince  Christ  said,  O  children  of  Israel,  serve  GOD,  my  LORD 
and  your  LORD  ;  whoever  shall  give  a  companion  unto  GOD, 


128  AL  KORAN. 

GOD  shall   exclude  him  from  paradise,  and   his  habitatioi 
Bhall  be  hett  fire ;  and  the  ungodly  shall  have  none  to  help 
them.     They  are   certainly  infidels,  who  say,  GOD  is  the 
third  of  three :  for  there  is  no  GOD,  besides  one  GOD  ;  and 
if  they  refrain  not  from  what  they  say,  a  painful  torment 
shall  surely  be  inflicted  on  such  of  them  as  are  unbelievers. 
Will  they  not  therefore  be  turned  unto  GOD,  and  ask  pardon 
of  him  ?  since  GOD  is  gracious  and  merciful.     Christ  the  son 
of  Mary  is  no  more  than  an  apostle;  other  apostles  have 
preceded  him ;  and  his  mother  was  a  woman  of  veracity : 
they  both  ate  food.     Behold,  how  we  declare  unto  them  the 
si<m$  of  God's  unity;  and  then  behold  how  they  turn  aside 
from  the  truth.      Say  unto  them,  Will   ye  worship,  besides 
GOD,  that  which  can  cause   you  neither  harm  nor  profit? 
GOD  is  he  who  heareth  and  seeth.     Say,  O  ye  who  have 
received  the  scriptures,  exceed  not  the  just  bounds  in  your 
religion,  by  speaking  beside  the  truth;   neither   follow  the 
desires  of  people  who  have  heretofore  erred,  and  who  have 
seduced  many,  and  have  gone  astray  from  the  straight  path. 
Those  among  the  children  of  Israel  who  believed  not  were 
cursed  by  the  tongue  of  David,  and  of  Jesus  the  son  of  Mary. 
This  befeU  them  because  they  were  rebellious  and  transgress- 
ed :  they  forbade  not  one  another  the  wickedness  which  they 
committed  ;  and  woe  unto  them  for  what  they  committed. 
Thou  shall  see  many  of  them  take  for  their  friends  those 
who  believe  not.     Woe  unto  them  for  what  their  souls  have 
sent  before  them,  for  that  GOD  is  incensed  against  them, 
and  they  shall  remain  in  torment  forever.     But,  if  they  had 
believed  in  GOD,  and  the  prophet,  and  that  which  hath  been 
revealed  unto  him,  they  had  not  taken  them  for  their  friends  ; 
but  many  of  them  are  evil-doers.    Thou  shalt  surely  find  the 
most  violent  of  all  men  in  enmity  against  the  true  believers 
to  be  the  Jews,  and  the  idolaters :  and  thou  shalt  surely  find 
those  among  them  to  be  the  most   inclinable  to  entertain 
friendship  for  the  true  believers,  who  say,  We  are  Christians. 
This  cometh  to  pass,  because  there  are  priests  and  monks 
among  them  ;  and  because  they  are  not  elated  with  pride : 
and  when  they  hear  that  which  hath  been  sent  down  to  the 
apostle  read  unto  them,  thou  shalt  see  their  eyes  overflow 
with  tears,  because  of  the  truth  which  they  perceive  there- 
in,  saying,  O  LORD,  we  believe;  write  us  down  therefore 
with  those  who  bear  witness  to  the  truth,  and  what  should 


AL   KORAN.  129 

binder  us  from  believing  in  GOD,  and  the  truth  which  hatk 
•»me  unto  us,  and  from  earnestly  desiring  that  our  LORE 
would  introduce  us  into  paradise  with  the  righteous  people?1 
Therefore  hath  GOD  rewarded  them,  for  what  they  have 
said,  with  gardens  through  which  rivers  flow ;  they  shall 
continue  therein  forever;  and  this  is  the  reward  of  the 
righteous.  But  they  who  believe  not,  and  accuse  our  signs 
of  falsehood,  they  shall  be  the  companions  of  hell.  O  true 
believers,  forbid  not  the  good  things  which  GOD  hath  al 
lowed  you ;  but  transgress  not,  for  GOD  loveth  not  the 
trangressors.  And  eat  of  what  GOD  hath  given  you  for 
food  that  which  is  lawful  and  good :  and  fear  GOD,  in  whom 
ye  believe.  GOD  will  not  punish  you  for  an  inconsiderate 
word  in  your  oaths ;  but  he  will  punish  you  for  what  ye 
solemnly  swear  with  deliberation.  And  the  expiation  of 
such  an  oath  shall  be  the  feeding  of  ten  poor  men  with  such 
moderate  food  as  ye  feed  your  own  families  withal ;  or  to 
clothe  them  ;  or  to  free  the  neck  of  a  true  believer  from  cap- 
tivity :  but  he  who  shall  not  find  wherewith  to  perform  one  of 
these  three  things  shall  fast  three  days.  This  is  the  expiation 
of  your  oaths,  when  ye  swear  inadvertently.  Therefore  keep 
your  oaths.  Thus  GOD  declareth  unto  you  his  signs,  that 
ye  may  give  thanks.  O  true  believers,  surely  wine,  and  lots, 
and  images,  and  divining  arrows,  are  an  abomination  of  the 
work  of  Satan ;  therefore  avoid  them  that  ye  may  prosper. 
Satan  seeketh  to  sow  dissension  and  hatred  among  you,  by 
means  of  wine  and  lots,  and  to  divert  you  from  remembering 
GOD,  and  from  prayer :  will  ye  not  therefore  abstain  from 
them  ?  Obey  GOD,  and  obey  the  apostle,  and  take  heed  to 
yourselves:  but  if  ye  turn  back,  know  that  the  duty  of  our 
apostle  is  only  to  preach  publicly.  In  those  who  believe 
and  do  good  works,  it  is  no  sin  that  they  have  tasted  wine  or 
gaming  before  they  were  forbidden  ;  if  they  fear  God,  and  be- 
lieve, and  do  good  works,  and  shall  for  the  future  fear  God, 
and  believe,  and  shall  persevere  to  fear  him,  and  to  do  good ; 
for  GOD  loveth  those  who  do  good.  0  true  believers,  GOD 
will  surely  prove  ,you  in  offering  you  plenty  of  game,  which 
ye  may  take  with  your  hands  or  your  lances,  that  GOD  may 
know  who  feareth  him  in  secret ;  but  whoever  transgresseth 
ifter  this  shall  suffer  a  grievous  punishment.  0  true  believ- 
ers, kill  no  game  while  ye  are  on  pilgrimage ;  whosoever  among 
you  shall  kill  any  designedly  shall  restore  the  like  of  what  he 
I 


130  AL   KORAN. 

ihall  have  killed,  in  domestic  animals,  according  to  the  Jeter 
mination  of  two  just  persons  among  you,  to  be  brought  aa  an 
offering  to  the  Caaba ;  or  in  atonement  thereof  shall  feed  the 
poor;  or  instead  thereof  shall  fast,  that  he  may  taste  the 
heinousness  of  his  deed.  GOD  hath  forgiven  what  is  past, 
but  whoever  returneth  to  transgress,  GOD  will  take  ven- 
geance on  him ;  for  GOD  is  mighty  and  able  to  avenge.  It 
is  lawful  for  you  to  fish  in  the  sea,  and  to  eat  what  ye  shaft 
catch,  as  a  provision  for  you  and  for  those  who  travel ;  but 
it  is  unlawful  for  you  to  hunt  by  land,  while  ye  are  perform- 
ing the  rights  of  pilgrimage ;  therefore  fear  GOD,  before 
whom  ye  shall  be  assembled  at  the  last  day.  GOD  hath  ap- 
pointed ihe  Caaba,  the  holy  house,  an  establishment  for  man- 
kind ;  and  hath  ordained  the  sacred  month,  and  the  offering, 
and  the  ornaments  hung  thereon.  This  hath  he  done  that  ye 
might  know  that  GOD  knoweth  whatsoever  is  in  heaven  and 
on  earth,  and  that  GOD  is  omniscient.  Know  that  GOD  ia 
severe  in  punishing,  and  that  GOD  is  also  ready  to  forgive, 
and  merciful.  The  duty  of  our  apostle  is  to  preach  only  ; 
and  GOD  knoweth  that  which  ye  discover,  and  that  which  ye 
conceal.  Say,  Evil  and  good  shall  not  be  equally  esteemed 
of,  though  the  abundance  of  evil  pleaseth  thee  ;  therefore 
fear  GOD,  0  ye  of  understanding,  that  ye  may  be  happy. 
0  true  believers,  inquire  not  concerning  things,  which,  if  they 
be  declared  unto  you,  may  'give  you  pain  ;  but  if  ye  ask  con- 
cerning them  when  the  Koran  is  sent  down,  they  will  be 
declared  unto  you :  GOD  pardoneth  you  as  to  these  matters ; 
for  GOD  is  ready  to  forgive,  and  gracious.  People  who 
have  been  before  you  formerly  inquired  concerning  them ; 
and  afterwards  disbelieved  therein.  God  hath  not  ordained 
anything  concerning  Bahira,  nor  Saiba,  nor  Wasila,  nor 
Hami;  but  the  unbelievers  have  invented  a  lie  against 
GOD  :  and  the  greater  part  of  them  do  not  understand. 
And  when  it  was  said  unto  them,  Come  unto  that  which 
GOD  hath  revealed,  and  to  the  apostle ;  they  answered, 
That  religion  which  we  found  our  fathers  to  follow  «  suf- 
Bcient  for  us.1  What,  though  their  fathers  knew  nothing  and 
were  not  rightly  directed  ?  0  true  believers,  take  care  of 
your  souls  !  He  who  erreth  shall  not  hurt  you,  while  ye  are 
rightly  directed :  unto  GOD  shall  ye  all  return,  and  he  will 
ill  you  that  which  ye  have  done.  0  true  believers,  let  wit- 
nesses be  taken  between  you,  when  death  approaches  any 


AL  KORAN.  131 

»f  you,  at  the  time  of  making  the  testament ;  let  there  be  twt 
witnesses,  just  men,  from  among  you  ;  or  two  others  of  a  dif- 
ferent tribe  or  faith  from  yourselves,  if  ye  be  journeying  in 
the  earth,  and  the  accident  of  death  befall  you.  Ye  shall 
shut  them  both  up,  after  the  afternoon  prayer,  and  they  shall 
swear  by  GOD,  if  ye  doubt  them,  and  they  shall  soy,  We  will 
not  sell  our  evidence  for  a  bribe,  although  the  person  con- 
cerned be  one  who  is  related  to  us,  neither  will  we  conceal 
the  testimony  of  GOD,  for  then  should  we  certainly  be  of  th* 
number  of  the  wicked.  But  if  it  appear  that  both  have  been 
guilty  of  iniquity,  two  others  shall  stand  up  in  their  place,  of 
those  who  have  convicted  them  of  falsehood,  the  two  nearest 
in  blood,  and  they  shall  swear  by  GOD,  saying,  Verily  our 
testimony  is  more  true  than  the  testimony  of  these  two, 
neither  have  we  prevaricated  ;  for  then  should  we  become 
of  the  number  of  the  unjust.  This  will  be  easier,  that  men 
may  give  testimony  according  to  the  plain  intention  thereof, 
or  fear  lest  a  different  oath  be  given,  after  their  oath. 
Therefore  fear  GOD,  and  hearken;  for  GOD  directeth  not 
the  unjust  people.  On  a  certain  day  shall  GOD  assemble 
the  apostles,  and  shall  say  unto  them,  What  answer  was 
returned  you,  when  ye  preached  unto  the  people  to  whom  y« 
were  sent  ?  They  shall  answer,  We  have  no  knowledge, 
but  thou  art  the  knower  of  secrets.  When  GOD  shall  say, 
O  Jesus  son  of  Mary,  remember  my  favor  towards  thee,  and 
towards  thy  mother ;  when  I  strengthened  thee  with  the  holy 
spirit,  that  thou  shouldest  speak  unto  men  in  the  cradle,  and 
when  thou  wast  grown  up;  and  when  I  taught  thee  the 
scripture,  and  wisdom  and  the  law,  and  the  gospel:  and 
when  thou  didst  create  of  clay  as  it  were  the  figure  of  a 
bird,  by  my  permission,  and  didst  breathe  thereon,  and  it 
became  a  bird,  by  my  permission,  and  thou  didst  heal  one 
blind  from  his  birth,  and  the  leper,  by  my  permission  ; 
and  when  thou  didst  bring  forth  the  dead  from  their  graves 
by  my  permission;  and  when  I  withheld  the  children  of 
Israel  from  kitting  thee,  when  thou  hadst  come  unto  them 
*ith  evident  miracles,  and  such  of  them  as  believed  not 
said,  This  is  nothing  but  manifest  sorcery.  And  when  I 
commanded  the  apostles  of  Jesus  saying,  Believe  in  me,  and 
in  my  messenger ;  they  answered,  We  do  believe ;  and  dc 
thou  bear  witness  that  we  are  resigned  unto  thee.  Remem- 
ber when  the  apostles  said,  O  Jesus  son  of  Mary,  is  thjf 


132  AL  KORAN. 

LORD  able  to  cause  a  table  to  descend  unto  us  front 
heaven  P1  He  answered,  Fear  GOD,  if  ye  be  true  believers. 
They  said,  We  desire  to  eat  thereof,  and  that  our  hearts  may 
rest  at  ease,  and  that  we  may  know  that  thou  hast  told  us 
the  truth,  and  that  we  may  be  witnesses  thereof.  Jesua 
the  son  of  Mary  said,  O  GOD  our  LORD,  cause  a  table  to 
descend  unto  us  from  heaven,  that  the  day  of  its  descent,  may 
become  a  festival  day  unto  us,  unto  the  first  of  us,  and  unto 
the  last  of  us,  and  a  sign  from  thee ;  and  do  thou  provide 
food  for  us,  for  thou  art  the  best  provider.2  GOD  said,  Verity 
I  will  cause  it  to  descend  unto  you  ;  but  whoever  among  yoi 
shall  disbelieve  hereafter,  I  will  surely  punish  him  with  a 
punishment,  wherewith  I  will  not  punish  any  other  creature. 
And  when  GOD  shall  say  unto  Jesus,  at  the  last  day,  O  Jesus 
son  of  Mary,  hast  thou  said  unto  men,  Take  me  and  my 
mother  for  two  gods,  beside  GOD  ?  He  shall  answer,  Praise 
be  unto  thee !  it  is  not  for  me  to  say  that  which  I  ought  not ; 
if  I  had  said  so,  thou  wouldest  surely  have  known  it :  thou 
knowest  what  is  in  me,  but  I  know  not  what  is  in  thee  ;  for 
thou  art  the  knower  of  secrets.  I  have  not  spoken  to  them 
my  other  than  what  thou  didst  command  me ;  namely,  Wor- 
ship GOD,  my  LORD  and  your  LORD  :  and  I  was  a  witness 
of  their  actions  while  I  staid  among  them  ;  but  since  thou 
hast  taken  me  to  thyself,  thou  hast  been  the  watcher  over 
them  ;  for  thou  art  witness  of  all  things.  If  thou  punish  them, 
they  are  surely  thy  servants ;  and  if  thou  forgive  them,  thou 
art  mighty  and  wise.  GOD  will  say,  This  day  shall  their 
veracity  be  of  advantage  unto  those  who  speak  truth ;  they 
shall  have  gardens  wherein  rivers  flow,  they  shall  remain 
therein  forever:  GOD  hath  been  well  pleased  in  them,  and 
they  have  been  well  pleased  in  him.  This  shall  be  great 
felicity.  Unto  GOD  bekngeth  the  kingdom  of  heaven  and  ~J 
earth,  and  of  whatever  therein  is ;  and  he  u  almighty. 


AL  KOBAN.  1M 

CHAPTER  VL 
IHTITLKD,  CATTLE:  REVEALED  AT  MEOOA. 

IH    THE    KAMB    OF    THE    MOST    MERCIFUL    GOD. 

PRAISE  be  unto  GOD,  who  hath  created  the  heavens  and 
the  earth,  and  hath  ordained  the  darkness  and  the  light ; 
nevertheless  they  who  believe  not  in  the  LORD  equalize 
ether  gods  with  him.  It  is  he  who  hath  created  you  of  clay ; 
and  then  decreed  the  term  of  your  lives  ;  and  the  prefixed 
term  is  with  him :  yet  do  ye  doubt  thereof.  He  is  GOD  in 
heaven  and  in  earth ;  he  knoweth  what  ye  keep  secret,  and 
what  ye  publish,  and  knoweth  what  ye  deserve.  There 
came  not  unto  them  any  sign,  of  the  signs  of  their  LORD, 
but  they  retired  from  the  same ;  and  they  have  gainsaid  the 
truth,  after  that  it  hath  come  unto  them :  but  a  message  shall 
come  unto  them,  concerning  that  which  they  have  mocked 
at.  Do  they  not  consider  how  many  generations  we  have 
destroyed  before  them  ?  "We  had  established  them  in  the 
earth  in  a  manner  wherein  we  have  not  established  you  ;  we 
Kent  the  heaven  to  rain  abundantly  upon  them,  and  we  gave 
them  rivers  which  flowed  under  their  feet :  yet  we  destroyed 
them  in  their  sins,  and  raised  up  other  generations  aftei 
them.  Although  we  had  caused  to  descend  unto  thee  a  book 
written  on  paper,  and  they  had  handled  it  with  their  hands,  the 
unbelievers  had  surely  said,  This  is  no  other  than  manifest 
*orcery.  They  said,  Unless  an  angel  be  sent  down  unto 
him,  we  will  not  belieoe.  But  if  we  had  sent  down  an  angel, 
verily  the  matter  had  been  decreed,  and  they  should  not 
have  been  borne  with,  by  having  time  granted  them  to  repent. 
And  if  we  had  appointed  an  angel  for  our  messenger,  we 
should  have  sent  him  in  the  form  of&  man,  and  have  clothed 
him  before  them,  as  they  are  clothed.  Other  apostles  have 
been  laughed  to  scorn  before  thee,  but  the  judgment  which 
they  made  a  jest  of  encompassed  those  who  laughed  them  to 
scorn.  Say,  Go  through  the  earth,  and  behold  what  hath 
been  the  end  of  those,  who  accused  our  prophets  of  impos- 
ture. Say,  Unto  whom  belongeth  whatsoever  is  in  heaven  and 
earth  ?  Say,  Unto  GOD,  He  hath  prescribed  unto  himself 


184  AL  KORAN. 

mercy.  He  will  surely  gather  you  together  on  the  day  of 
resurrection  ;  there  is  no  doubt  of  it.  They  who  destroy 
their  own  souls  are  those  who  will  not  believe.  Unto  him  is 
owing  whatsoever  happeneth  by  night  or  by  day ;  it  is  he  who 
heareth  and  knoweth.  Say,  Shall  I  take  any  other  protec- 
tor than  GOD,  the  creator  of  heaven  and  earth,  who  feedeth 
all  and  is  not  fed  by  any  ?  Say,  Verily  I  am  commanded  to 
be  the  first  who  professeth  Islam,  and  it  was  said  unto  me, 
Thou  shalt  by  no  means  be  one  of  the  idolaters.  Cay, 
Verily  I  fear,  if  I  should  rebel  against  my  LORD,  the  pun- 
ishment of  the  great  day:  from  whomsoever  it  shall  be 
averted  on  that  day,  God  will  have  been  merciful  unto  him  ; 
this  will  be  manifest  salvation.  If  GOD  afflict  thee  with  ary 
hurt,  there  is  none  who  can  take  it  off  from  thee,  except  him- 
self; but  if  he  cause  good  to  befall  thee,  he  is  almighty  ;  he 
\s  the  supreme  Lord  over  his  servants,  and  he  is  wise  and 
knowing.  Say,  What  thing  is  the  strongest  in  bearing  tes- 
timony ?  Say,  GOD  ;  he  is  witness  between  me  and  you. 
And  this  Koran  was  revealed  unto  me,  that  I  should  ad- 
monish you  thereby,  and  also  those  unto  whom  it  shall  reach. 
Do  ye  really  profess  that  there  are  other  gods  together  with 
GOD  ?  Say,  I  do  not  profess  this.  Say,  Verily  he  is  one 
GOD  ;  and  I  am  guiltless  of  what  ye  associate  with  him. 
They  unto  whom  we  have  given  the  scripture  know  our 
apostle,  even  as  they  know  their  own  children ;  but  they  who 
destroy  their  own  souls  will  not  believe.  Who  is  more  un- 
just than  he  who  inventeth  a  lie  against  GOD,  or  chargeth 
his  signs  with  imposture  ?  Surely  the  unjust  shall  not  pros- 
per. And  on  the  day  of  resurrection  we  will  assemble  them 
all ;  then  will  we  say  unto  those  who  associated  others  with 
God,  Where  are  your  companions,  whom  ye  imagined  to  be 
those  of  God  f  But  they  shall  have  no  other  excuse,  than 
that  they  shall  say,  by  GOD  our  LORD,  we  have  not  been 
idolaters.  Behold,  how  they  lie  against  themselves,  and 
what  they  have  blasphemously  imagined  to  be  the  companion 
of  God  flieth  from  them.  There  is  of  them  who  heark- 
eneth  unto  thee  when  thou  readest  the  Koran  ;  but  we  have 
cast  veils  over  their  hearts,  that  they  should  not  understand 
5t,^and  a  deafness  in  their  ears:  and  though  they  should  soe 
all  kinds  of  signs,  they  will  not  believe  therein  ;  and  their 
infidelity  will  arrive  to  that  height  that  they  will  even  com* 
onto  thee,  to  dispute  with  thee.  The  unbelievers  will  say, 


AL  KORAN.  13") 

This  is  nothing  but  silly  fables  of  ancient  times.  And  they 
will  forbid  others  from  believing  therein,  and  will  retire  afar 
off  from  it ;  but  they  will  destroy  their  own  souls  only,  and 
they  are  not  sensible  thereof.  If  thou  didst  see  when  they 
shall  be  set  over  the  fire  of  hell !  and  they  shall  say,  Would 
to  GOD  we  might  be  sent  back  into  the  world ;  we  would 
not  charge  the  signs  of  our  LORD  with  imposture,  and  we 
would  become  true  believers :  nay,  but  that  is  become  mani- 
fest r.nto  them,  which  they  formerly  concealed ;  and  though 
they  should  be  sent  back  into  the  world,  they  would  surely 
return  to  that  which  WHS  forbidden  them ;  and  they  are 
surely  liars.  And  they  said,  There  is  no  other  life  than  our 
present  life  ;  neither  shall  we  be  raised  again.  But  if  thou 
cculdest  see,  when  they  shall  be  set  before  their  LORD  !  He 
shall  say  unto  them,  Is  not  this  in  truth  come  to  pass  ?  They 
shall  answer,  Yea,  by  our  LORD.  God  shall  say,  Taste 
therefore  the  punishment  due  unto  you,  for  that  ye  have  dis- 
believed. They  are  lost  who  reject  as  a  falsehood  the  meet- 
ing of  GOD  in  the  next  life,  until  the  hour  cometh  suddenly 
upon  them.  Then  will  they  say,  Alas  !  for  that  we  have 
behaved  ourselves  negligently  in  our  lifetime ;  and  they 
shall  carry  their  burdens  on  their  backs ;  will  it  not  be  evil 
which  they  shall  be  loaden  with?1  This  present  life  is  no 
other  than  a  play  and  a  vain  amusement ;  but  surely  the  fu- 
ture mansion  shall  be  better  for  those  who  fear  God  :  will  they 
not  therefore  understand?  Now  we  know  that  what  they 
speak  grieveth  thee  :  yet  they  do  not  accuse  thee  of  falsehood ; 
but  the  ungodly  contradict  the  signs  of  GOD.  And  apostles 
before  thee  have  been  accounted  liars  :  but  they  patiently 
bore  their  being  accounted  liars,  and  their  being  vexed, 
until  our  help  came  unto  them;  for  there  is  none  who  can 
change  the  words  of  GOD  :  and  thou  hast  received  some 
information  concerning  those  who  have  been  formerly  sent 
from  him.  If  their  aversion  to  thy  admonitions  be  grievous 
unto  thee,  if  thou  canst  seek  out  a  den  whereby  thou  mayest 
venetrate  into  the  inward  parts  of  the  earth,  or  a  ladder  by 
which  thou  mayest  ascend  into  heaven,  that  thou  mayest  show 
them  a  sign,  do  so,  fui  thy  search  will  be  fruitless ;  for  if 
GOD  pleased  he  would  bring  them  all  to  the  true  direction  : 
be  not  therefore  one  of  the  ignorant.  He  will  give  a  favor- 
able answer  unto  those  only  who  shall  hearken  with  atten- 
tion :  and  GOD  will  raise  the  dead  ;  then  unto  him  shall 


136  AL  KORAN. 

they  return.  The  infideb  say,  Unless  some  sign  be  senl 
down  unto  him  from  his  LORD,  we  will  not  believe  :  answer 
Verily  GOD  is  able  to  send  down  a  sign :  but  the  greatei 
part  of  them  know  it  not.1  There  is  no  kind  of  beast  on 
earth,  nor  fowl  which  flieth  with  its  wings,  but  the  same  is  a 
people  like  unto  you ;  we  have  not  omitted  anything  in  the 
book  of  our  decrees :  then  unto  their  LORD  shall  they  re 
turn.2  They  who  accuse  our  signs  of  falsehood  are  deaf  and 
dumb,  walking  in  darkness  :  GOD  will  lead  into  error  whore 
he  pleaseth,  and  whom  he  pleaseth  he  will  put  in  the  right 
way.  Say,  What  think  ye  ?  if  the  punishment  of  GOD 
come  upon  you,  or  the  hour  of  the  resurrection  come  upon 
you,  will  ye  call  upon  any  other  than  GOD,  if  ye  speak 
truth?  yea,  him  shall  ye  call  upon,  and  he  shall  free  you 
from  that  which  ye  shall  ask  him  to  deliver  you  from,  if  he 
pleaseth  ;  and  ye  shall  forget  that  which  ye  associated  with 
him.  We  have  already  sent  messengers  unto  sundry  nations 
before  thee,  and  we  afflicted  them  with  trouble  and  adversity 
that  they  might  humble  themselves  :  yet  when  the  affliction 
which  we  sent  came  upon  them,  they  did  not  humble  them- 
selves ;  but  their  hearts  became  hardened,  and  Satan  pre- 
pared for  them  that  which  they  committed.  And  when  they 
had  forgotten  that  concerning  which  they  had  been  admon- 
ished, we  opened  unto  them  the  gates  of  all  things ;  until, 
while  they  were  rejoicing  for  that  which  had  been  given 
them,  we  suddenly  laid  hold  on  them,  and  behold,  they  were 
seized  with  despair ;  and  the  utmost  part  of  the  people 
which  had  acted  wickedly  was  cut  off:  praise  be  unto  GOD, 
the  LORD  of  all  creatures !  Say,  what  think  ye  ?  if  GOD 
should  take  away  your  hearing  and  your  sight,  and  should 
seal  up  your  hearts;  what  god  besides  GOD  will  restore 
them  unto  you  ?  See  how  variously  we  show  forth  the 
signs  of  God's  unity ;  yet  do  they  turn  aside  from  them. 
Say  unto  them,  What  think  ye  ?  if  the  punishment  of  GOD 
come  upon  you  suddenly,  or  in  open  view ;  will  any  perish, 
except  the  ungodly  people?  We  send  not  our  messengers 
otherwise  than  bearing  good  tidings  and  denouncing  threats. 
Whoso  therefore  shall  believe  and  amend,  on  them  shall  no 
fear  come,  neither  shall  they  be  grieved :  but  whoso  shall 
accuse  our  signs  of  falsehood,  a  punishment  shall  fall  on 
them,  because  they  have  done  wickedly.  Say,  I  say  not  unto 
you,  The  treasures  of  GOD  are  in  my  power  :  neither  do  I 


AL   KORAN.  137 

lay,  I  know  the  secrets  of  God:  neither  do  I  say  unto  you, 
Verily  I  am  an  angel :  I  follow  only  that  which  is  revealed 
unto  me.  Say,  Shall  the  blind  and  the  seeing  be  held 
equal?  do  ye  not  therefore  consider?  Preach  it  unto  those 
who  fear  that  they  shall  be  assembled  before  their  LORD  : 
they  shall  have  no  patron  nor  intercessor,  except  him ;  that 
peradventure  they  may  take  heed  to  themselves.  Drive  not 
away  those  who  call  upon  their  LORD  morning  and  even- 
ing, desiring  to  see  his  face ;  it  belongeth  not  unto  thee  to 
pass  any  judgment  on  them,  nor  doth  it  belong  unto  them  to 
pass  any  judgment  on  thee :  therefore  if  thou  drive  them 
away,  thou  wilt  become  one  of  the  unjust.  Thus  have  we 
proved  some  part  of  them  by  other  part,  that  they  may  say, 
Are  these  the  people  among  us  unto  whom  GOD  hath  been 
gracious  ?  Doth  not  GOD  most  truly  know  those  who  are 
thankful  ?  And  when  they  who  believe  in  our  signs  shall 
ccme  unto  thee,  say,  Peace  be  upon  you.  Your  LORD  hath 
prescribed  unto  himself  mercy ;  so  whoever  among  you 
worketh  evil  through  ignorance,  and  afterwards  repenteth 
and  amendeth ;  unto  him  will  he  surely  be  gracious  and 
merciful.  Thus  have  we  distinctly  propounded  our  signs, 
that  'he  path  of  the  wicked  might  be  made  known.  Say, 
Verily  I  am  forbidden  to  worship  the  false  deities  which  ye 
invoke,  besides  GOD.  Say,  I  will  not  follow  your  desires ; 
for  then  should  I  err,  neither  should  I  be  one  of  those  who  are 
rightly  directed.  Say,  I  behave  according  to  the  plain  decla- 
ration, which  I  have  received  from  my  LORD  ;  but  ye  have 
forged  lies  concerning  him.  That  which  ye  desire  should  be 
hastened,  is  not  in  my  power ;  judgment  belongeth  only  unto 
GOD  ;  he  will  determine  the  truth ;  and  he  is  the  best  dis- 
cerner.  Say,  If  what  ye  desire  should  be  hastened  were  iir 
my  power,  the  matter  had  been  determined  between  me  and 
you :  but  GOD  well  knoweth  the  unjust  With  him  are  the 
keys  of  the  secret  things;  none  knoweth  them  besides  him- 
self: he  knoweth  that  which  is  on  the  dry  land  and  in  the 
sea ;  there  falleth  no  leaf,  but  he  knoweth  it ;  neither  is  there 
a  single  grain  in  the  dark  parts  of  the  earth,  neither  a  green 
thing,  nor  a  dry  thing,  but  it  is  written  in  the  perspicuous 
Dook.  It  is  he  who  causeth  you  to  sleep  by  night,  and 
knoweth  what  ye  merit  by  day  ;  he  also  awaketh  you  there- 
in, that  the  prefixed  term  of  your  lives  may  be  fulfilled 
then  unto  him  shall  ye  return,  and  he  shall  declare  qnt« 


188  AL  KORAN. 

you  that  which  ye  have  wrought.     He  is  supreme  over  his 
servants,  and  sendeth  the  guardian  angels  to  watch  over  you 
until,  when   death  overtaketh  one  of   you,  our  messenger* 
cause  him  to  die :  and  they  will  not  neglect  our  command*. 
Afterwards  shall  they  return  unto  GOD,  their  true  LORD 
doth  not  judgment  belong  unto  him  ?  he  is  the  most  quick  in 
taking  an  account.     Say,  Who  delivereth  you  from  the  dark- 
ness of  the  land,  and  of  the  sea,  when  ye  call  upon  him 
humhly  and   in   private,  saying,  Verily  if  thou  deliver  us 
from    these  dangers,  we    will    surely  be    thankful?     Say, 
GOD  delivereth  you  from  them,  and  from  every  grief  of 
mind ;  yet  afterwards  ye  give  him  companions.     Say,  He  ia 
able  to  send  on  you  A  punishment  from  above  you,  or  from 
under  your  feet,  or  to  engage  you  in  dissension,  and  to  make 
some  of  you  taste  the   violence  of  others.     Observe   how 
variously  we  show  forth  our  signs,  that  peradventure  they 
may  understand.     This  people  hath  accused  the  revelation 
which  thou  hast  brought  of   falsehood,  although  it    be    the 
truth.     Say,  I  am  not  a  guardian  over  you  :  every  prophecy 
hath  its  fixed    time  of  accomplishment ;  and  he  will    here- 
after know  it.     When  thou  seest  those  who  are  engaged  in 
cavilling  at,  or  ridiculing  our  signs,  depart  from  them,  until 
they  be  engaged  in   some  other  discourse :    and    if   !";atan 
cause  thee  to  forget  this  precept,  do  not  sit  with  the  ungodly 
people  after  recollection.     They  who  fear  God  are  not  at  all 
accountable  for  them,  but  their  duty  is  to  remember  that 
they  may  take  heed  to  themselves.     Abandon    those   who 
make  their  religion  a  sport  and  a  jest ;  and  whom  the  pres- 
ent life  hath  deceived  :  and  admonish  them  by  the  Koran,  that 
a  soul  becometh  liable  to  destruction  for  that  which  it  com- 
mitteth :    it   shall   have   no   patron    nor  intercessor  besides 
GOD  :  and  if  it  could  pay  the  utmost  price  of  redemption, 
it  would  not  be  accepted  from  it.     They  who  are  delivered 
over  to  perdition  for  that  which  they  have  committed  shall 
have  boiling  water  to  drink,  and  shall  suffer  a  grievous  pun- 
ishment, because  they  have  disbelieved.     Say,  Shall  we  call 
upon  that,  besides   GOD,  which  can  neither  profit   us,  nor 
hurt  us?  and  shall  we  turn  back  on  our   heels,  after  that 
GOD  hath  directed  us;  like  him  whom  the  devils  have  in 
fatuated,  wandering  amazedly  in  the  earth,  and  yet  having 
companions   who   call   him  into  the  true  direction,  saying, 
Come  unto  us?     Say,  the    direction   of   Gop    is    the   true 


AL  KORAN.  139 

direction:  we  are  commanded  to  resign  ourselves  unto  th» 
LORD  of  all  creatures  ;  and  it  is  also  commanded  us,  saying, 
Observe  the  stated  times  of  prayer,  and  fear  him ;  for  it  is 
he  before  whom  ye  shall  be  assembled.  It  is  he  who  bath 
created  the  heavens  and  the  earth  in  truth ;  and  whenever 
he  saith  unto  a  thing,  Be,  it  is.  His  word  is  the  truth  ;  and 
his  will  be  the  kingdom  on  the  day  whereon  tfie  trumpef 
shall  be  sounded  :  he  knoweth  whatever  is  secret,  and  what> 
ever  is  public  ;  he  is  the  wise,  the  knowing.  Call  to  mina 
when  Abraham  said  unto  his  father  Azer,  Dost  thou  take 
images  for  gods  P1  Verily  I  perceive  that  thou  and  thy 
people  are  in  a  manifest  error.  And  thus  did  we  show  unto 
Abraham  the  kingdom  of  heaven  and  earth,  that  he  might 
become  one  of  those  who  firmly  believe.  And  when  the 
night  overshadowed  him,  he  saw  a  star,  and  he  said,  This  ia 
my  LORD  ;  but  when  it  set,  he  said,  I  like  not  gods  which 
set.8  And  when  he  saw  the  moon  rising,  he  said,  This  is  my 
LORD  ;  but  when  he  saw  it  set,  he  said,  Verily  if  my  LORD 
direct  me  not,  I  shall  become  one  of  the  people  who  go 
astray.  And  when  he  saw  the  sun  rising,  he  said,  This  is 
my  LORD,  this  is  the  greatest ;  but  when  it  set,  he  said,  O 
my  people,  verily  I  am  clear  of  that  which  ye  associate  with 
God:  I  direct  my  face  unto  him  who  hath  created  the  heav- 
ens and  the  earth ;  /  am  orthodox,  and  am  not  one  of  the 
idolaters.  And  his  people  disputed  with  him :  and  he  said, 
Will  ye  dispute  with  me  concerning  GOD  ?  since  he  hath  now 
directed  me,  and  I  fear  not  that  which  ye  associate  with 
him,  unless  that  my  LORD  willeth  a  thing ;  for  my  LORI 
comprehendeth  all  things  by  his  knowledge  :  will  ye  not 
therefore  consider  ?  And  how  should  I  fear  that  which  ye 
associate  with  God,  since  ye  fear  not  to  have  associated  with 
GOD  that  concerning  which  he  hath  sent  down  unto  you  no 
authority  ?  which  therefore  of  the  two  parties  is  the  more 
safe,  if  ye  understand  aright  f  They  who  believe,  and 
clothe  not  their  faith  with  injustice,  they  shall  enjoy  secu- 
rity, and  they  are  rightly  directed.  And  this  is  our  argu- 
ment wherewith  we  furnished  Abraham  that  he  might  make 
use  of  it  against  his  people :  we  exalt  unto  degrees  of  wis- 
dom and  knowledge  whom  we  please ;  for  thy  LORD  is  wise 
and  knowing.  And  we  gave  unto  them  Jsaac  and  Jacob ; 
we  directed  them  both  :  and  Noah  had  we  before  directed,  and 
»f  his  posterity  David  and  Solomon  ;  and  Job,  and  Joseph, 


140  AL  KORAN. 

and  Moses,  and  Aaron :  thus  do  we  reward  the  righteous 
and  Zacharias,  and  John,  and  Jesus,  and  Elias  ;  all  of  them 
were  upright  men :  and  Ismael,  and  Elisha,  and  Jonas,  and 
Lot ;  all  these  have  we  favored  above  the  rest  of  the  world  ; 
and  also  divers  of  their  fathers,  and  their  issue,  and  their 
brethren;  and  we  chose  them,  and  directed  them  into  thft 
right  way.  This  is  the  direction  of  GOD,  he  directeth 
thereby  such  of  his  servants  as  he  pleaseth ;  but  if  they  Lad 
been  guilty  of  idolatry,  that  which  they  wrought  would  have 
become  utterly  fruitless  unto  them.  Those  were  the  person* 
unto  whom  we  gave  the  scripture,  and  wisdom,  and  proph- 
ecy ;  but  if  these  believe  not  therein,  we  will  commit  the 
care  of  them  to  a  people  who  shall  not  disbelieve  the  same. 
Those  were  the  persons  whom  GOD  hath  directed,  therefore 
follow  their  direction.  Say  unto  the  inhabitants  of  Mecca,  I 
ask  of  you  no  recompense  for  preaching  the  Koran  ;  it  is  no 
other  than  an  admonition  unto  all  creatures.  They  make 
not  a  due  estimation  of  GOD,  when  they  say,  GOD  hath  not 
sent  down  unto  man  anything  at  all :  Say,  Who  sent  down 
the  book  which  Moses  brought,  a  light  and  a  direction  unto 
men;  which  ye  transcribe  on  papers,  whereof  ye  publish 
tome  part,  and  great  part  whereof  ye  conceal  ?  and  ye  have 
been  taught  by  Mohammed  what  ye  knew  not,  neither  your 
fathers.  Say,  GOD  sent  it  down :  then  leave  them  to  amuse 
themselves  with  their  vain  discourse.  This  book  which  wa 
have  sent  down  it  blessed ;  confirming  that  which  was  re- 
vealed before  it ;  and  it  delivered  unto  thee  that  thou  maye.st 
preach  it  unto  the  metropolis  of  Mecca  and  to  those  who  are 
round  about  it  And  they  who  believe  in  the  next  life  will 
believe  therein,  and  they  will  diligently  observe  their  times 
of  prayer.  Who  is  more  wicked  than  he  who  forgeth  a  lie 
concerning  GOD  ?  or  saith  Tliis  was  revealed  unto  me ;  when 
nothing  hath  been  revealed  unto  him  ?  and  who  saith,  I  will 
produce  a  revelation  like  unto  that  which  GOD  hath  sent 
down  ?  If  thou  didst  see  when  the  ungodly  are  in  the  pangs 
of  death,  and  the  angels  reach  out  their  hands  saying,  Cast 
forth  your  souls ;  this  day  shall  ye  receive  an  ignominious 
punishment  for  that  which  ye  have  falsely  spoken  concern- 
ing GOD  ;  and  because  ye  have  proudly  rejected  his  signs. 
And  now  are  ye  come  unto  us  alone,  as  we  created  you  at 
first,  and  ye  have  left  that  which  we  had  bestowed  on  you, 
behiud  your  backs ;  neither  do  we  Bee  with  you  your  inter* 


AL  KORAN.  141 

cessors,  whom  ye  thought  to  have  been  partners  with  Got 
among  you :  now  is  the  relation  between  you  cut  off,  and  what 
ye  imagined  hath  deceived  you.  GOD  causeth  the  grain  and 
the  date-stone  to  put  forth :  he  bringeth  forth  the  living  from 
the  dead,  and  he  bringeth  forth  the  dead  from  the  living. 
This  is  GOD.  Why  therefore  are  ye  turned  away  from  him  f 
He  causeth  the  morning  to  appear ;  and  hath  ordained  the 
night  for  rest,  and  the  sun  and  the  moon  for  the  computing  of 
time.  This  is  the  disposition  of  the  mighty,  the  wise  God. 
It  is  he  who  hath  ordained  the  stars  for  you,  that  ye  may  be 
directed  thereby  in  the  darkness  of  the  land  and  of  the  sea, 
We  have  clearly  shown  forth  our  signs,  unto  people  wb.3 
understand.  It  is  he  who  hath  produced  you  from  one  soul ; 
and  hath  provided  for  you  a  sure  receptacle  and  a  repository. 
We  have  clearly  shown  forth  our  signs,  unto  people  who  are 
wise.  It  is  he  who  sendeth  down  water  from  heaven,  and  we 
have  thereby  produced  the  springing  buds  of  all  things,  and 
have  thereout  produced  the  green  thing,  from  which  we  pro- 
duce the  grain  growing  in  rows,  and  palm-trees  from  whose 
branches  proceed  clusters  of  dates  hanging  close  together ; 
and  gardens  of  grapes,  and  olives,  and  pomegranates,  both 
like  and  unlike  to  one  another.  Look  on  their  fruits,  when 
they  bear  fruit,  and  their  growing  to  maturity.  Verily 
herein  are  signs,  unto  people  who  believe.  Tet  they  have 
set  up  the  genii  as  partners  with  GOD,  although  he  created 
them :  and  they  have  falsely  attributed  unto  him  sons  and 
daughters,  without  knowledge.  Praise  be  unto  him ;  and 
far  be  that  from  him  which  they  attribute  unto  him  !  He  it 
the  maker  of  heaven  and  earth :  how  should  he  have  issue 
since  he  hath  no  consort  ?  he  hath  created  all  things,  and  he 
is  omniscient.  This  is  GOD  your  LORD  ;  there  is  no  GOD 
but  he,  the  creator  of  all  things ;  therefore  serve  him :  for 
he  taketh  care  of  all  things.  The  sight  comprehendeth  him 
not,  but  he  comprehendeth  the  sight ;  he  is  the  gracious,  the 
wise.  Now  have  evident  demonstrations  come  unto  you 
from  your  LORD  ;  whoso  seeth  them,  the  advantage  thereof 
will  redound  to  his  own  soul :  and  whoso  is  wilfully  blind, 
the  consequence  will  be  to  himself.  I  am  not  a  keeper  over 
you.  Thus  do  we  variously  explain  our  signs ;  that  they 
may  say,  Thou  hast  studied  diligently ;  and  that  we  may 
declare  them  unto  people  of  understanding.  Follow  that 
which  hath  been  revealed  unto  thee  from  thy  LORD  ;  ther« 


142  AL  KORAN. 

is  no  GOD  but  he  :  retire  therefore  from  the  idolaters.  II 
Gor>  had  so  pleased,  they  had  not  been  guilty  of  idolatry 
We  have  not  appointed  thee  a  keeper  over  them  ;  neithei 
art  thou  a  guardian  over  them.  Revile  not  the  idols  which 
they  invoke  besides  GOD,  lest  they  maliciously  revile  GOD, 
without  knowledge.  Thus  have  we  prepared  for  every 
nation  their  works:  hereafter  unto  GOD  shall  they  return, 
and  he  shall  declare  unto  them  that  which  they  have  done. 
They  have  sworn  by  GOD,  by  the  most  solemn  oath,  that  if  a 
*ign  came  unto  them,  they  would  certainly  believe  therein 
Say,  Verily  signs  are  in  the  power  of  GOD  alone ;  and  he 
permitteth  you  not  to  understand,  that  when  they  come,  they 
will  not  believe.  And  we  will  turn  aside  their  hearts  and 
their  sight  from  the  truth,  as  they  believed  not  therein  the 
first  time ;  and  we  will  leave  them  to  wander  in  their 
error.  And  though  we  had  sent  down  angels  unto 
them,  and  the  dead  had  spoken  unto  them,  and  we  had 
gathered  together  before  them  all  things  in  one  view ;  they 
would  not  have  believed,  unless  GOD  had  so  pleased :  but 
the  greater  part  of  them  know  it  not.  Thus  have  we  ap- 
pointed unto  every  prophet  an  enemy ;  the  devils  of  men, 
and  of  genii :  who  privately  suggest  the  one  to  the  other  spe- 
cious discourses  to  deceive ;  but  if  thy  LORD  pleased,  they 
would  not  have  done  it.  Therefore  leave  them,  and  that 
which  they  have  falsely  imagined ;  and  let  the  hearts  of  those 
be  inclined  thereto,  who  believe  not  in  the  life  to  come .  and 
let  them  please  themselves  therein,  and  let  them  gain  that 
which  they  are  gaining.  Shall  I  seek  after  any  other  judge 
besides  GOD  to  judge  between  us  ?  It  is  he  who  hath  sent 
down  unto  you  the  book  of  the  Koran  distinguishing  between 
good  and  evil;  and  they  to  whom  we  gave  the  scripture 
know  that  it  is  sent  down  from  thy  LORD,  with  truth.  Be 
not  therefore  one  of  those  who  doubt  thereof.  The  words  of 
thy  LORD  are  perfect,  in  truth  and  justice  ;  there  is  none  who 
can  change  his  words  :  he  both  heareth  and  knoweth.  But 
if  thou  obey  the  greater  part  of  them  who  are  in  the  earth, 
they  will  lead  thee  aside  from  the  path  of  GOD  :  they  fol- 
low an  uncertain  opinion  only,  and  speak  nothing  but  lies  ; 
verily  thy  LORD  well  knoweth  those  who  go  astray  from  his 
path,  and  well  knoweth  those  who  are  rightly  directed.  Eat 
of  that  whereon  the  name  of  GOD  hath  been  commemorated, 
u  ye  believe  in  his  signs  :  and  why  do  ye  not  eat  of  that 


AL  KORAN.  143 

thereon  the  name  of  GOB  hath  been  commemorated  ?  sine* 
he  hath  plainly  declared  unto  you  what  he  hath  forbidden 
you ;  except  that  which  ye  be  compelled  to  eat  of  by  neces- 
sity ;  many  lead  others  into  error,  because  of  their  appetites, 
being  void  of  knowledge  ;  but  thy  LORD  well  knoweth  who 
are  the  transgressors.  Leave  both  the  outside  of  iniquity 
and  the  inside  thereof:  for  they  who  commit  iniquity  shall 
receive  the  reward  of  that  which  they  shall  have  gained. 
Eat  not  therefore  of  that  whereon  the  name  of  GOD  hath  not 
been  commemorated  ;  for  this  is  certainly  wickedness :  but 
the  devils  will  suggest  unto  their  friends,  that  they  dispute 
with  you  concerning  this  precept ;  but  if  ye  obey  them,  ye 
are  surely  idolaters.  Shall  he  who  hath  been  dead,  and 
whom  we  have  restored  unto  life,  and  unto  whom  we  have 
ordained  a  light,  whereby  he  may  walk  among  men,  be  as  he 
whose  similitude  is  in  darkness,  from  whence  he  shall  not 
come  forth  ?  Thus  was  that  which  the  infidels  are  doing 
prepared  for  them.  And  thus  have  we  placed  in  every  city 
chief  leaders  of  the  wicked  men  thereof,  that  they  may  act 
deceitfully  therein ;  but  they  shall  act  deceitfully  against  their 
own  souls  only ;  and  they  know  it  not.  And  when  a  sign 
coraeth  unto  them,  they  say,  We  will  by  no  means  believe 
until  a  revelation  be  brought  unto  us,  like  unto  that  which 
hath  been  delivered  unto  the  messengers  of  GOD.  GOD  best 
knoweth  whom  he  will  appoint  for  his  messenger.  Vileness 
in  the  sight  of  God  shall  fall  upon  those  who  deal  wickedly, 
and  a  grievous  punishment,  for  that  they  have  dealt  deceit- 
fully. And  whomsoever  GOD  shall  please  to  direct,  he  will 
open  his  breast  to  receive  the  faith  of  Islam  :  but  whomsoever 
he  shall  please  to  lead  into  error,  he  will  render  his  breast 
straight  and  narrow,  as  though  he  were  climbing  up  to  heaven. 
Thus  doth  GOD  inflict  a  terrible  punishment  on  those  who 
believe  not.  This  is  the  right  way  of  thy  LORD.  Now  have 
we  plainly  declared  our  signs  unto  those  people  who  will  con- 
aider.  They  shall  have  a  dwelling  of  peace  with  their  LORD, 
and  he  shall  be  their  patron,  because  of  that  which  they  have 
wrought.  Think  on  the  day  whereon  God  shall  gather  them 
all  together,  and  shall  say,  O  company  of  genii,  ye  have  been 
much  concerned  with  mankind  ;  and  their  friends  from  among 
mankind  shall  say,  0  LORD,  the  one  of  us  hath  received  ad- 
vantage from  the  other,  and  we  are  arrived  at  our  limited  term 
which  thou  hast  appointed  us.  God  will  say,  Hett  fire  thaU 


144  A.L   KORAW. 

be  your  habitation,  therein  shall  ye  remain  forever ;  unlest 
aa  GOD  shall  please  to  mitigate  your  pains,  for  thy  LORD  it 
wise  and  knowing.1  Thus  do  we  set  some  of  the  unjust  over 
others  of  them,  because  of  that  which  they  have  deserved.  0 
company  of  genii  and  men,  did  not  messengers  from  among 
yourselves  come  unto  you,  rehearsing  my  signs  unto  you,  and 
forewarning  you  of  the  meeting  of  this  your  day  ?  They 
shall  answer,  We  bear  witness  against  ourselves  :  the  present 
life  deceived  them  :  and  they  shall  bear  witness  against  them- 
selves  that  they  were  unbelievers.  This  hath  been  the  method 
of  God's  dealing  with  his  creatures,  because  thy  LORD  would 
not  destroy  the  cities  in  their  iniquity,  while  their  inhabitants 
were  careless.  Every  one  shall  have  degrees  of  recompense 
of  that  which  they  shall  do ;  for  thy  LORD  is  not  regard- 
less of  that  which  they  do,  and  thy  LORD  is  self-sufficient 
ind  endued  with  mercy.  If  he  pleaseth  he  can  destroy 
you,  and  cause  such  as  he  pleaseth  to  succeed  you,  in 
like  manner  as  he  produced  you  from  the  posterity  of  other 
people.  Verily  that  which  is  threatened  you,  shall  surely 
come  to  pass ;  neither  shall  ye  cause  it  to  fail.  Say  unto 
those  of  Mecca,  0  my  people,  act  according  to  your  power  ; 
verily  I  will  act  according  to  my  duty  :  and  hereafter  shall 
ye  know  whose  will  be  the  reward  of  paradise.  The  ungodly 
shall  not  prosper.  Those  of  Mecca  set  apart  unto  GOD  a 
portion  of  that  which  he  hath  produced  of  the  fruits  of  the 
earth,  and  of  cattle  ;  and  say,  This  belongeth  unto  GOD  (ac- 
cording to  their  imagination),  and  this  unto  our  companions. 
And  that  which  is  destined  for  their  companions  cometh 
not  unto  GOD  ;  yet  that  which  is  set  apart  unto  GOD  cometh 
unto  their  companions.  How  ill  do  they  judge !  In  like 
manner  have  their  companions  induced  many  of  the  idolaters 
to  slay  their  children,  that  they  might  bring  them  to  perdi- 
tion, and  that  they  might  render  their  religion  obscure  and 
confuEed  unto  them.2  But  if  GOD  had  pleased,  they  had  not 
done  this :  therefore  leave  them  and  that  which  they  falsely 
imagine.  They  also  say,  These  cattle  and  fruits  of  the  earth 
are  sacred  ;  none  shall  eat  thereof  but  who  we  please  (accord- 
ing to  their  imagination);  and  there  are  cattle  whose  backs 
are  forbidden  to  be  rode  on,  or  laden  with  burdens  ;  and  there 
are  cattle  on  which  they  commemorate  not  the  name  of  GOD 
w/im  they  slay  them  ;  devising  a  lie  against  him  ;  God  shall 
•eward  them  for  that  which  they  falsely  devise.  And  they 


AL    KORAN.  145 

say,  That  which  is  in  the  bellies  of  these  cattle  it  allowed 
to  our  males  to  eat,  and  is  forbidden  to  our  wives :  but  if  it 
prove  abortive,  then  they  are  both  partakers  thereof.  God 
shall  give  them  the  reward  of  their  attributing  these  things  to 
him :  he  is  knowing  and  wise.  They  are  utterly  lost  who 
have  slain  their  children  foolishly,  without  knowledge  ;  and 
have  forbidden  that  which  GOD  hath  given  them  for  food, 
devising  a  lie  against  GOD.  They  have  erred,  and  were  not 
rightly  directed.  He  it  is  who  produceth  gardens  of  vines, 
both  those  which  are  supported  on  trails  of  wood,  and  those 
which  are  not  supported,  and  palm-trees,  and  the  corn  afford- 
ing various  food,  and  olives,  and  pomegranates,  alike  and  un- 
like unto  one  another.  Eat  of  their  fruit,  when  they  bear  fruit, 
and  pay  the  due  thereof  on  the  day  whereon  ye  shall  gather 
it ;  but  be  not  profuse,  for  God  loveth  not  those  who  are  too 
profuse.  And  God  hath  given  you  some  cattle  fit  for  bearing 
jf  burdens,  and  some  fit  for  slaughter  only.  Eat  of  what  GOD 
auth  given  you  for  food  ;  and  follow  not  the  steps  of  Satan, 
;br  he  is  your  declared  enemy.  Four  pair  of  cattle  hath  God 
given  you;  of  sheep  one  pair,  and  of  goats  one  pair.  Say 
unto  them,  Hath  God  forbidden  the  two  males,  of  sheep  and 
of  goats,  or  the  two  females ;  or  that  which  the  wombs  of  the 
two  females  contain?  Tell  me  with  certainty,  if  ye  speak 
truth.  And  of  camels  hath  God  given  you  one  pair,  and  of 
oxen  one  pair.  Say,  Hath  he  forbiddden  the  two  males  of 
these,  or  the  two  females ;  or  that  which  the  wombs  of  the 
two  females  contain  ?  Were  ye  present  when  GOD  com- 
manded you  this  ?  And  who  is  more  unjust  than  he  who 
deviseth  a  lie  against  GOD,  that  he  may  seduce  men  without 
understanding  ?  Verily  GOD  directed  not  unjust  people. 
Say,  I  find  not  in  that  which  hath  been  revealed  unto  me 
anything  forbidden  unto  the  eater,  that  he  eat  it  not,  except 
it  be  that  which  dieth  of  itself,  or  blood  poured  forth,  or 
swine's  flesh  :  for  this  is  an  abomination :  or  that  which  is 
profane,  having  been  slain  in  the  name  of  some  other  than  of 
GOD.  But  whoso  shall  be  compelled  by  necessity  to  eat  of 
these  things,  not  lusting,  nor  wilfully  transgressing,  verily  thy 
LORD  will  be  gracious  unto  him  and  merciful.  Unto  the  Jews 
did  we  forbid  every  beast  having  an  undivided  hoof;  and  of 
bullocks  and  sheep,  we  forbade  them  the  fat  of  both ;  except 
that  which  should  be  on  their  backs,  or  their  inwards,  or 
which  should  be  intermixed  with  the  bone.  This  have  we 
10 


146  AL   KORAN. 

rewarded  them  with,  because  of  their  iniquity ;  and  we  ar* 
Burely  speakers  of  truth.  If  they  accuse  thee  of  imposture, 
Bay,  Tour  LORD  is  endued  with  extensive  mercy;  but  his 
severity  shall  not  be  averted  from  wicked  people.  The  idol- 
aters will  say,  If  GOD  had  pleased,  we  had  not  been  guilty  of 
idolatry,  neither  our  fathers ;  and  pretend  that  we  have  not 
forbidden  them  anything.  Thus  did  they  who  were  before 
them  accuse  the  prophets  of  imposture,  until  they  tasted  our 
severe  punishment.  Say,  Is  there  with  you  any  certain 
knowledge  of  what  ye  allege,  that  ye  may  produce  it  unto 
us  ?  Ye  follow  only  a  false  imagination  ;  and  ye  utter  only 
lies.  Say,  therefore,  Unto  GOD  belongeth  the  most  evident 
demonstration  ;  for  if  he  had  pleased,  he  had  directed  you  all. 
Say,  Produce  your  witnesses,  who  can  bear  testimony  that 
GOD  hath  forbidden  this.  But  if  they  bear  testimony  of  this, 
do  not  thou  bear  testimony  with  them,  nor  do  thou  follow  the 
desires  of  those  who  accuse  our  signs  of  falsehood,  and  who 
believe  not  in  the  life  to  come,  and  equalize  idols  with  their 
LORD.  Say,  Come  ;  I  will  rehearse  that  which  your  LORD 
hath  forbidden  you ;  that  is  to  say,  that  ye  be  not  guilty  of 
idolatry,  and  that  ye  show  kindness  to  your  parents,  and  that 
ye  murder  not  your  children  for  fear  lest  ye  be  reduced  to 
poverty ;  we  will  provide  for  you  and  them  ;  and  draw  not 
near  unto  heinous  crimes,  neither  openly  nor  in  secret ;  and 
slay  not  the  soul  which  God  hath  forbidden  you  to  slay,  unless 
for  a  just  cause.  This  hath  he  enjoined  you  that  ye  may 
understand.  And  meddle  not  with  the  substance  of  the 
orphan,  otherwise  than  for  the  improving  thereof,  until  he 
attain  his  age  of  strength  :  and  use  a  full  measure,  and  a  just 
balance.  We  will  not  impose  a  task  on  any  soul  beyond  its 
ability.  And  when  ye  pronounce  judgment  observe  justice, 
although  it  be  for  or  against  one  who  is  near  of  kin,  and 
fulfil  the  covenant  of  GOD.  This  hath  God  commanded  you, 
that  ye  may  be  admonished  ;  and  that  ye  may  know  that  this 
is  my  right  way :  therefore  follow  it,  and  follow  not  the  path 
of  others,  lest  ye  be  scattered  from  the  path  of  God.  This 
hath  he  commanded  you  that  ye  may  take  heed.  We  gave 
also  unto  Moses  the  book  of  the  law ;  a  perfect  rule  unto 
him  who  should  do  right,  and  a  determination  concerning  all 
ihmgs  needful,  and  a  direction,  and  mercy  ;  that  the  children 
Israel  might  believe  the  meeting  of  their  LORD.  And  this 
book  which  we  have  now  sent  down  is  blessed;  therefor* 


AL  KORAN.  147 

follow  it,  and  fear  God  that  ye  may  obtain  mercy :  lest  y« 
should  say,  The  scriptures  were  only  sent  down  unto  two 
people  before  us  ;  and  we  neglected  to  peruse  them  with 
attention  :  or  lest  ye  should  say,  If  a  book  of  divine  revela- 
tions had  been  sent  down  unto  us,  we  would  surely  have  been 
better  directed  than  they.  And  now  hath  a  manifest  declara- 
tion come  unto  you  from  your  LORD,  and  a  direction  and 
mercy:  and  who  is  more  unjust  than  he  who  deviseth  liea 
agairst  the  signs  of  GOD,  and  turneth  aside  from  them  ? 
We  will  reward  those  who  turn  aside  from  our  signs  with  a 
grievous  punishment,  because  they  have  turned  aside.  Do 
they  wait  for  any  other  than  that  the  angels  should  come  unto 
them,  to  part  their  souls  from  their  bodies  ;  or  that  thy  LOR 
should  come  to  punish  them  ;  or  that  some  of  the  signs  01 
thy  LORD  should  come  to  pass,  showing  the  day  of  judgment 
to  be  at  hand  ?l  On  the  day  whereon  some  of  thy  LORD'S 
signs  shall  come  to  pass,  its  faith  shall  not  profit  a  soul  which 
believed  not  before,  or  wrought  not  good  in  its  faith.  Say, 
Wait  ye  for  this  day  ;  we  surely  do  wait^/br  it.  They  who 
make  a  division  in  their  religion,  and  become  sectaries,  have 
thou  nothing  to  do  with  them  ;  their  affair  belongeth  only  unto 
GOD.  Hereafter  shall  he  declare  unto  them  that  which  they 
have  done.  He  who  shall  appear  with  good  works,  shall 
receive  a  tenfold  recompense  for  the  same ;  but  he  who  shall 
appear  with  evil  works,  shall  receive  only  an  equal  punish- 
ment for  the  same ;  and  they  shall  not  be  treated  unjustly. 
Say,  Verily  my  LORD  hath  directed  me  into  a  right  way,  a 
true  religion,  the  sect  of  Abraham  the  orthodox  ;  and  he  was 
no  idolater.  Say,  Verily  my  prayers,  and  my  worship,  and 
my  life,  and  my  death  are  dedicated  unto  GOD,  the  LORD  of 
all  creatures :  he  hath  no  companion.  This  have  I  been 
commanded  :  I  am  the  first  Moslem.  Say,  shall  I  desire  any 
other  LORD  besides  GOD  ?  since  he  is  the  LORD  of  all  things ; 
and  no  soul  shall  acquire  any  merits  or  demerits  but  for  itself; 
and  no  burdened  soul  shall  bear  the  burden  of  another.  More- 
over unto  your  LORD  shall  ye  return  ;  and  he  shall  declare 
unto  you  that  concerning  which  ye  now  dispute.  It  is  he  who 
hath  appointed  you  to  succeed  your  predecessors  in  the  earth, 
and  hath  raised  some  of  you  above  others  by  various  degrees 
of  worldly  advantages,  that  he  might  prove  you  by  that  which 
*e  hath  bestowed  on  you.  Thy  LORD  is  swift  in  punishing  j 
tnd  he  is  also  gracious  and  merciful. 


148  AL  KORAff. 

CHAPTER  VIL 

HI  TITLED,   AL    ABAF  ;    BEVEALED    AT   MECCA. 

nr  THE  SAME  or  THB  MOST  MEHCIFUL  GOD. 

AL.  M.  S.  A  book  hath  been  sent  down  unto  thee :  and 
therefore  let  there  be  no  doubt  in  thy  breast  concerning  it ; 
that  thou  mayest  preach  the  same,  and  that  it  may  be  an  ad- 
monition unto  the  faithful.  Follow  that  which  hath  been 
gent  down  unto  you  from  your  LORD  ;  and  follow  no  guides 
besides  him :  how  little  will  ye  be  warned !  How  many 
cities  have  we  destroyed ;  which  our  vengeance  overtook  by 
night,  or  while  they  were  reposing  themselves  at  noon-day ! 
And  their  supplication,  when  our  punishment  came  upon 
them,  was  no  other  than  that  they  said,  Verily  we  have  been 
unjust.  We  will  surely  call  those  to  an  account,  unto  whom 
,a  prophet  hath  been  sent ;  and  we  will  also  call  those  to  ac- 
count who  have  been  sent  unto  them.  And  we  will  declare 
their  actions  unto  them  with  knowledge ;  for  we  are  not  ab- 
sent from  them.  The  weighing  of  men's  actions  on  that  day 
shall  be  just ;  and  they  whose  balances  laden  with  their  good 
works  shall  be  heavy,  are  those  who  shall  be  happy  ;  but  they 
whose  balances  shall  be  light,  are  those  who  have  lost  their 
souls,  because  they  injured  our  signs.  And  now  have  we 
placed  you  on  the  earth,  and  have  provided  you  food  therein : 
but  how  little  are  ye  thankful !  We  created  you,  and  after- 
wards formed  you  ;  and  then  said  unto  the  angels,  Worship 
Adam ;  and  they  all  worshipped  him,  except  Eblis,  who  was 
not  one  of  those  who  worshipped.  God  said  unto  him,  What 
hindered  thee  from  worshipping  Adam,  since  I  had  com- 
manded thee  ?  He  answered,  I  am  more  excellent  than  he : 
thou  hast  created  me  of  fire,  and  hast  created  him  of  clay 
God  said,  Get  thee  down  therefore  from  paradise  ;  for  it  is 
not  jit  that  thou  behave  thyself  proudly  therein :  get  thee 
hence ;  thou  shalt  be  one  of  the  contemptible.  He  answered, 
Give  me  respite  until  the  day  of  resurrection.  God  said, 
Verily  thou  shalt  be  one  of  those  who  are  respited.  The 
devil  said,  Because  thou  hast  depraved  me,  I  will  lay  wait 
for  men  in  thy  strait  way ;  then  will  I  come  upon  them  from 


AL  KORAN.  149 

before,  and  from  behind,  and  from  their  right  hands,  and 
from  their  left ;  and  thou  shalt  not  find  the  greater  part  of 
them  thankful.  God  said  unto  him,  Get  thee  hence,  despised, 
and  driven  far  away:  verily  whoever  of  them  shall  follow 
thee,  I  will  surely  fill  hell  with  you  all :  but  as  for  thee,  0 
Adam,  dwell  thou  and  thy  wife  in  paradise;  and  eat  of  ths 
fruit  thereof  wherever  ye  will ;  but  approach  not  this  tree, 
lest  ye  become  of  the  number  of  the  unjust.  And  Satan  sug- 
gested to  them  both,  that  he  would  discover  unto  them  their 
nakedness,  which  was  hidden  from  them  ;  and  he  said,  Your 
LORD  hath  not  forbidden  you  this  tree,  for  any  other  reason 
but  lest  ye  should  become  angels,  or  lest  ye  become  im- 
mortal. And  he  sware  unto  them,  saying,  Verily  I  am  one 
of  those  who  counsel  you  aright.  And  he  caused  them  to 
fall  through  deceit.1  And  when  they  had  tasted  of  the  tree, 
their  nakedness  appeared  unto  them ;  and  they  began  to 
join  together  the  leaves  of  paradise,  to  cover  themselves. 
And  their  LORD  called  to  them,  saying,  Did  I  not  forbid  you 
this  tree :  and  did  I  not  say  unto  you,  Verily  Satan  is  your 
declared  enemy  ?  They  answered,  O  LORD,  we  have  dealt 
unjustly  with  our  own  souls ;  and  if  thou  forgive  us  not, 
and  be  not  merciful  unto  us,  we  shall  surely  be  of  those  who 
perish.  God  said,  Get  ye  down,  the  one  of  you  an  enemy 
unto  the  other ;  and  ye  shall  have  a  dwelling-place  upon  the 
earth,  and  a  provision  for  a  season.  He  said,  Therein  shall 
ye  live,  and  therein  shall  ye  die,  and  from  thence  shall  ye  be 
taken  forth  at  the  resurrection.  O  children  of  Adam,  we 
have  sent  down  unto  you  apparel,  to  conceal  your  naked- 
ness, and  fair  garments ;  but  the  clothing  of  piety  is  better. 
This  M  one  of  the  signs  of  God ;  that  peradventure  ye  may 
consider.  O  children  of  Adam,  let  not  Satan  seduce  you,  as 
he  expelled  your  parents  out  of  paradise,  by  stripping  them 
)f  their  clothing,  that  he  might  show  them  their  nakedness : 
verily  he  seeth  you,  both  he  and  his  companions,  whereas  ye 
see  not  them.  —  We  have  appointed  the  devils  to  be  patrons 
of  those  who  believe  not :  and  when  they  commit  a  filthy 
action,  they  say,  We  found  our  fathers  practising  the  same ; 
\nd  GOD  hath  commanded  us  to  do  it.  Say,  Verily  GOD 
commaudeth  not  filthy  actions.  Do  ye  speak  concerning 
GOD  that  which  ye  know  not?  Say,  My  LORD  hath  com- 
manded me  to  observe  justice;  therefore  set  your  faces  to 
prey  at  every  place  of  worship,  and  call  upon  him,  approv- 


150  AL  KORAN. 

ing  unto  him  the  sincerity  of  your  religion.  As  he  produced 
you  at  first,  so  unto  him  shall  ye  return.  A  part  of  mankind 
hath  he  directed ;  and  a  part  hath  been  justly  led  into  error, 
because  they  have  taken  the  devils  for  their  patrons  besides 
GOD,  and  imagine  they  are  rightly  directed.  O  children  of 
Adam,  take  your  decent  apparel  at  every  place  of  worship, 
and  eat  and  drink,  but  be  not  guilty  of  excess ;  for  he  loveth 
not  those  who  are  guilty  of  excess.  Say,  Who  hath  forbid- 
den the  decent  apparel  of  GOD,  which  he  hath  produced  for 
his  servants,  and  the  good  things  which  he  hath  provided  for 
food  ?  Say,  these  things  are  for  those  who  believe,  in  thia 
present  life,  but  peculiarly  on  the  day  of  resurrection.  Thua 
do  we  distinctly  explain  our  signs  unto  people  who  under- 
stand. Say,  Verily  my  LORD  hath  forbidden  filthy  actions, 
both  that  which  is  discovered  thereof,  and  that  which  is  con- 
cealed, and  also  iniquity,  and  unjust  violence  ;  and  hath  for- 
bidden you  to  associate  with  GOD  that  concerning  which  he 
hath  sent  you  down  no  authority,  or  to  speak  of  GOD  that 
which  ye  know  not.  Unto  every  nation  there  is  a  prefixed 
term ;  therefore  when  their  term  is  expired,  they  shall  not 
have  respite  for  an  hour,  neither  shall  they  be  anticipated. 
0  children  of  Adam,  verily  apostles  from  among  you  shall 
come  unto  you,  who  shall  expound  my  signs  unto  you  :  who- 
soever therefore  shall  fear  God  and  amend,  there  shall  come 
no  fear  on  them,  neither  shall  they  be  grieved.  But  they 
who  shall  accuse  our  signs  of  falsehood,  and  shall  proudly 
reject  them,  they  shall  be  the  companious  of  hell  fire ;  they 
shall  remain  therein  forever.  And  who  is  more  unjust  than 
he  who  deviseth  a  lie  concerning  GOD,  or  accuseth  his  signs 
of  imposture  ?  Unto  these  shall  be  given  their  portion  of 
worldly  happiness,  according  to  what  is  written  in  the  book 
of  God's  decrees,  until  our  messengers  come  unto  them,  and 
shall  cause  them  to  die ;  saying,  Where  are  the  idolt  which 
ye  called  upon,  besides  GOD  ?  They  shall  answer,  They  have 
disappeared  from  us.  And  they  shall  bear  witness  against 
them  selves  that  they  were  unbelievers.  God  shall  say  unto 
them  at  the  resurrection,  Enter  ye  with  the  nations  which 
have  preceded  you,  of  genii  and  of  men,  into  hell  fire ;  so 
[ten  as  one  nation  shall  enter,  it  shall  curse  its  sister,  until 
they  shall  all  have  successively  entered  therein.  The  latter 
them  shall  say  of  the  former  of  them :  O  LORD,  these 
have  seduced  us  •  therefore  inflict  on  them  a  double  punish 


AL  KORAN.  151 

naent  of  the  fh«  of  helL  God  shall  answer,  It  thall  b» 
doubled  unto  all :  but  ye  know  it  not :  and  the  former  of 
them  shall  say  unto  the  latter  of  them,  Ye  have  not  there- 
fore any  favor  above  us ;  taste  the  punishment  for  that  which 
ye  have  gained.  Verily  they  who  shall  charge  our  signs 
with  falsehood,  and  shall  proudly  reject  them,  the  gates  of 
heaven  shall  not  be  opened  unto  them,  neither  shall  they 
enter  into  paradise,  until  a  camel  pass  through  the  eye  of  a 
needle,  and  thus  will  we  reward  the  wicked  doers.  Their 
couch  shall  be  in  hell,  and  over  them  shall  be  coverings  of 
fire ;  and  thus  wih1  we  reward  the  unjust.  But  they  who 
believe,  and  do  that  which  is  right  (we  will  not  load  any  soul 
but  according  to  its  ability,)  they  shall  be  the  companions  of 
paradise;  they  shall  remain  therein  forever.  And  we  will 
remove  all  grudges  from  their  minds ;  rivers  shall  run  at 
their  feet,  and  they  shall  say,  Praised  be  GOD,  who  hath 
directed  us  unto  this  felicity,  for  we  should  not  have  been 
rightly  directed,  if  GOD  had  not  directed  us;  now  are  we 
convinced  by  demonstration  that  the  Apostles  of  our  LORD 
came  unto  us  with  truth.  And  it  shall  be  proclaimed  unto 
them,  This  is  paradise,  whereof  ye  are  made  heirs,  as  a  re- 
ward for  that  which  ye  have  wrought.  And  the  inhabi- 
tants of  paradise  shall  call  out  to  the  inhabitants  of  heU 
fire,  saying,  Now  have  we  found  that  which  our  LORD 
promised  us  to  be  true :  have  ye  also  found  that  which 
your  LORD  promised  you  to  be  true  ?  They  shall  answer, 
Yea.  And  a  crier  shall  proclaim  between  them,  The  curse 
of  GOD  shall  be  on  the  wicked ;  who  turn  men  aside  from 
the  way  of  GOD,  and  seek  to  render  it  crooked,  and  who 
deny  the  life  to  come.  And  between  the  blessed  and  the 
damned  there  shall  be  a  veil ;  and  men  shall  stand  on  Al 
Araf  who  shall  know  every  one  of  them  by  their  marks ; 
and  shall  call  unto  the  inhabitants  of  paradise,  saying, 
Peace  be  upon  you :  yet  they  shall  not  enter  therein, 
although  they  earnestly  desire  it.1  And  when  they  shall 
turn  their  eyes  towards  the  companions  of  hett  fire,  they 
say,  0  LORD,  place  us  not  with  the  ungodly  people  !  And 
those  who  stand  on  Al  Araf  shall  call  unto  certain  men, 
whom  they  shall  know  by  their  marks,  and  shall  say,  What 
toath  your  gathering  of  riches  availed  you,  and  that  y« 
were  puffed  up  with  pride  ?  Are  these  the  men  011  whom 
fe  sware  that  GOD  would  not  bestow  mercy  ?  Enter  y« 


152  AL  KORAN. 

into  paradise ;  there  shall  come  no  fear  on  you,  neither  shall 
ye  be  grieved.  And  the  inhabitants  of  hell  fire  shall  call 
unto  the  inhabitants  of  paradise,  saying,  Pour  upon  us 
gome  water,  or  of  those  refreshments  which  GOD  hath  be- 
stowed on  you.  They  shall  answer,  Verily  GOD  hath  for- 
bidden them  unto  the  unbelievers;  who  made  a  laughing- 
stock and  a  sport  of  their  religion,  and  whom  the  life  of 
the  world  hath  deceived :  therefore  this  day  will  we  forget 
them,  as  they  did  forget  the  meeting  of  this  day,  and  for 
that  they  denied  our  signs  to  be  from  God.  And  now 
have  we  brought  unto  those  of  Mecca  a  book  of  divint 
revelations:  we  have  explained  it  with  knowledge;  a  di- 
rection and  mercy  unto  people  who  shall  believe.  Do 
they  wait  for  any  other  than  the  interpretation  thereof? 
On  the  day  whereon  the  interpretation  thereof  shall  come, 
they  who  had  forgotten  the  same  before  shall  say,  Now  are 
we  convinced  ly  demonstration  that  the  messengers  of  our 
LORD  came  unto  us  with  truth :  shall  we  therefore  have  any 
intercessors,  who  will  intercede  for  us  ?  or  shall  we  be  sent 
back  into  the  world,  that  we  may  do  other  works  than  what 
we  did  in  our  life-time?  But  now  have  they  lost  their 
souls;  and  that  which  they  impiously  imagined  hath  fled 
from  them.  Verily,  your  LORD  is  GOD,  who  created  the 
heavens  and  the  earth  in  six  days ;  and  then  ascended  hit 
throne :  he  causeth  the  night  to  cover  the  day ;  it  suc- 
ceedeth  the  same  swiftly :  he  also  created  the  sun  and  the 
moon,  and  the  stars,  which  are  absolutely  subject  unto  his 
command.  Is  not  the  whole  creation,  and  the  empire 
thereof,  his  ?  Blessed  be  GOD,  the  LORD  of  all  creatures ! 
Call  unto  your  LORD  humbly  and  in  secret ;  for  he  loveth 
not  those  who  transgress.  And  act  not  corruptly  in  the 
earth,  after  its  reformation ;  and  call  upon  him  with  fear 
and  desire :  for  the  mercy  of  GOD  is  near  unto  the  right- 
eous. It  is  he  who  sendeth  the  winds,  spread  abroad  be- 
fore his  mercy,  until  they  bring  a  cloud  heavy  with  rain, 
which  we  drive  into  a  dead  country;  and  we  cause  water 
to  descend  thereon,  by  which  we  cause  all  sorts  of  fruits  to 
spring  forth.  Thus  will  we  bring  forth  the  dead  from  their 
fraves ;  that  peradventure  ye  may  consider.  From  a  good 
country  shall  its  fruit  spring  forth  abundantly,  by  the  per- 
mission of  its  LORD  ;  but  from  the  land  which  is  bad,  it 
•hall  not  spring  forth  otherwise  than  scarcely.  Thus  do 


AL   KOBAN.  153 

we  explain  the  signs  of  divine  providence  unto  people  wh« 
are  thankful.  We  formerly  sent  Noah  unto  his  people: 
and  he  said,  0  my  people,  worship  GOD  :  ye  have  no  other 
GOD  than  him.1  Verily  I  fear  for  you  the  punishment  of 
the  great  day.  The  chiefs  of  his  people  answered  him, 
We  surely  perceive  thee  to  be  in  a  manifest  error.  He 
replied,  O  my  people,  there  is  no  error  in  me  ;  but  I  am  a 
messenger  from  the  LORD  of  all  creatures.  I  bring  unto 
you  the  messages  of  my  LORD  ;  and  I  counsel  you  aright : 
for  I  know  from  GOD,  that  which  ye  know  not.  Do  ye 
wonder  that  an  admonition  hath  come  unto  you  from  your 
LORD  by  a  man  from  among  you,  to  warn  you,  that  ye  may 
take  heed  to  yourselves,  and  that  peradventure  ye  may  ob- 
tain mercy  ?  And  they  accused  him  of  imposture  :  but  we 
delivered  him  and  those  who  were  with  him  in  the  ark,  and 
we  drowned  those  who  charged  our  signs  with  falsehood ;  for 
they  were  a  blind  people. 2  And  unto  the  tribe  of  Ad  we  sent 
their  brother  Hud.  3  He  said,  O  my  people,  worship  GOD  : 
ye  have  no  other  GOD  than  him  ;  will  ye  not  fear  him  ? 
The  chiefs  of  those  among  his  people  who  believed  not, 
answered,  Verily  we  perceive  that  thou  art  guided  by  folly ; 
and  we  certainly  esteem  thee  to  be  one  of  the  liars.  He  re- 
plied, O  my  people,  /  am  not  guided  by  folly ;  but  I  am  a 
messenger  unto  you  from  the  LORD  of  all  creatures :  I  bring 
unto  you  the  messages  of  my  LORD  ;  and  I  am  a  faithful 
counsellor  unto  you.  Do  ye  wonder  that  an  admonition 
hath  come  unto  you  from  your  LORD,  by  a  man  from 
among  you,  that  he  may  warn  you  ?  Call  to  mind  how 
he  hath  appointed  you  successors  unto  the  people  of  Noah, 
and  hath  added  unto  you  in  stature  largely.  Remember 
the  benefits  of  GOD,  that  ye  may  prosper.  They  said,  Art 
thou  come  unto  us,  that  we  should  worship  GOD  alone,  and 
leave  the  deities  which  our  fathers  worshipped  ?  Now  bring 
down  that  judgment  upon  us,  with  which  thou  threatenest  us, 
if  thou  speakest  truth.  Hud  answered,  Now  shall  there  sud- 
denly fall  upon  you  from  your  LORD  vengeance  and  indig- 
nation. Will  ye  dispute  with  me  concerning  the  names 
which  ye  have  named,  and  your  fathers ;  as  to  which  GOD 
bath  not  revealed  unto  you  any  authority  ?  Do  ye  wait 
therefore,  and  I  will  be  one  of  those  who  wait  with  you. 
And  we  delivered  him,  and  them  who  believed  with  him 
by  our  mercy ;  and  we  cut  off  the  uttermost  part  of  thow 


154  AL    KORAN. 

who  charged  our  signs  with  falsehood,  and  were  not  be- 
lievers.1 And  unto  the  tribe  o/Thamud  we  sent  their  brothei 
Saleh.  He  said,  0  my  people,  worship  GOD  :  ye  have  no 
GOD  besides  him.  Now  hath  a  manifest  proof  coine  unto 
you  from  your  LORD.  This  she-camel  of  GOD  is  a  sign 
unto  you :  therefore  dismiss  her  freely,  that  she  may  feed 
in  GOD'S  earth;  and  do  her  no  hurt,  lest  a  painful  punish- 
ment seize  you.2  And  call  to  mind  how  he  hath  appointed 
you  successors  unto  the  tribe  of  Ad,  and  hath  given  you  a 
habitation  on  earth ;  ye  build  yourselves  castles  on  the 
plains  thereof,  and  cut  out  the  mountains  into  houses. 
Remember  therefore  the  benefits  of  GOD,  and  commit  not 
violence  in  the  earth,  acting  corruptly.  The  chiefs  among 
his  people  who  were  puffed  up  with  pride,  said  unto  those 
who  were  esteemed  weak,  namely  unto  those  who  believed 
among  them,  Do  ye  know  that  Saleh  hath  been  sent  from 
his  LORD  ?  They  answered,  We  do  surely  believe  in  that 
wherewith  he  hath  been  sent.  Those  who  were  elated 
with  pride  replied,  Verily  we  believe  not  in  that  wherein 
ye  believe.  And  they  cut  off  the  feet  of  the  camel,  and 
insolently  transgressed  the  command  of  their  LORD,  and 
said,  O  Saleh,  cause  that  to  come  upon  us  which  thou  hast 
threatened  us,  if  thou  art  one  of  those  who  have  been  sent 
by  God.  Whereupon  a  terrible  noise  from  heaven  assailed 
them ;  and  in  the  morning  they  were  found  in  their  dwellings 
prostrate  on  their  breasts  and  dead.  And  Saleh  departed 
from  them,  and  said,  0  my  people,  now  have  I  delivered 
unto  you  the  message  of  my  LORD  and  I  advised  you  well, 
but  ye  love  not  those  who  advise  you  well.  And  remember 
Lot,  when  he  said  unto  his  people,  Do  ye  commit  a  wicked- 
ness, wherein  no  creature  hath  set  you  an  example  ?  Do 
ye  approach  lustfully  unto  men,  leaving  the  women  ?  Cer- 
tainly ye  are  people  who  transgress  all  modesty.  But  the 
answer  of  his  people  was  no  other  than  that  they  said 
the  one  to  the  other,  Expel  them  your  city ;  for  they  are 
men  who  preserve  themselves  pure  from  the  crimes  which 
|f«  commit.  Therefore  we  delivered  him  and  his  family, 
except  his  wife ;  she  was  one  of  those  who  stayed  behind  : 
and  we  rained  a  shower  of  stones  upon  them.  Behold 
therefore  what  was  the  end  of  the  wicked.  And  unto 
Madian  tr«  sent  their  brother  Shoaib.  He  said  unto  them, 
0  my  people,  worship  GOD  ;  ye  have  no  GOD  besides  him. 


AL   KORAN.  155 

Now  hath  an  evident  demonstration  come  unto  you  from 
your  LORD.  Therefore  give  full  measure  and  just  weight, 
and  diminish  not  unto  men  aught  of  their  matters :  neither 
act  corruptly  in  the  earth,  after  its  reformation.  This  wih 
be  better  for  you,  if  ye  believe.  And  beset  not  every  way, 
thi  eatening  the  passenger ;  and  turning  aside  from  the  path 
of  GOD  him  who  believeth  in  him,  and  seeking  to  make  it 
crooked.  And  remember,  when  ye  were  few,  and  God 
multiplied  you:  and  behold,  what  hath  been  the  end  of 
those  who  acted  corruptly.  And  if  part  of  you  believe  in 
that  wherewith  I  am  sent,  and  part  believe  not,  wait 
patiently  until  GOD  judge  between  us ;  for  he  is  the 
best  judge.  The  chiefs  of  his  people,  who  were  elated 
with  pride,  answered,  We  will  surely  cast  thee,  O  Shoaib, 
and  those  who  believe  with  thee,  oat  of  our  city :  or  else 
thou  shalt  certainly  return  unto  our  religion.  He  said, 
What,  though  we  be  averse  thereto  ?  We  shall  surely 
imagine  a  lie  against  GOD,  if  we  return  unto  your  reli- 
gion, after  that  GOD  hath  delivered  us  from  the  same: 
and  we  have  no  reason  to  return  unto  it,  unless  GOD  our 
LORD  shall  please  to  abandon  its.  Our  LORD  comprehendeth 
every  thing  by  his  knowledge.  In  GOD  do  we  put  our  trust. 
O  LORD  do  thou  judge  between  us  and  our  nation  with 
truth ;  for  thou  art  the  best  judge.  And  the  chiefs  of  his 
people  who  believed  not  said,  If  ye  follow  Shoaib,  ye  shall 
surely  perish.  Therefore  a  storm  from  heaven  assailed  them, 
and  in  the  morning  they  were  found  in  their  dwellings  dead 
and  prostrate.  They  who  accused  Shoaib  of  imposture  be- 
came as  though  they  had  never  dwelt  therein ;  they  who 
accused  Shoaib  of  imposture  perished  themselves.  And  he 
departed  from  them,  and  said,  O  my  people,  now  have  I 
performed  unto  you  the  messages  of  my  LORD  ;  and  I 
advised  you  aright :  but  why  should  I  be  grieved  for  an 
unbelieving  people.  We  have  never  sent  any  prophet  unto 
a  city,  but  we  afflicted  the  inhabitants  thereof  with  calamity 
and  adversity,  that  they  might  humble  themselves.  Then 
we  gave  them  in  exchange  good  in  lieu  of  evil,  until  they 
Abounded,  and  said,  Adversity  and  prosperity  formerly  hap- 
pened unto  our  fathers,  as  unto  us.  Therefore  we  took 
vengeance  on  them  suddenly,  and  they  perceived  it  not 
beforehand.  But  if  the  inhabitants  of  those  cities  had  be- 
lieved and  feared  God,  we  would  surely  have  opened  to  them 


156  AL   KORAN. 

blessings  both  from  heaven  and  earth.  But  they  charged 
our  apostles  with  falsehood,  wherefore  we  took  vengeance  on 
them,  for  that  which  they  had  been  guilty  of.  Were  the 
inhabitants  therefore  of  those  cities  secure  that  our  punish, 
ment  should  not  fall  on  them  by  night,  while  they  slept  ? 
Or  were  the  inhabitants  of  those  cities  secure  that  our  pun- 
ishment should  not  fall  on  them  by  day,  while  they  sported  ? 
Wer?  they  therefore  secure  from  the  stratagem  of  GOD  ? 
But  none  will  think  himself  secure  from  the  stratagem  of 
GOD,  except  the  people  who  perish.  And  hath  it  not  mani 
festly  appeared  unto  those  who  have  inherited  the  earth  after 
the  former  inhabitants  thereof,  that  if  we  please,  we  can 
afflict  them  for  their  sins  ?  But  we  will  seal  up  their  hearts ; 
and  they  shall  not  hearken.  We  will  relate  unto  thee  some 
stories  of  these  cities.  Their  apostles  had  come  unto  them 
with  evident  miracles,  but  they  were  not  disposed  to  believe 
in  that  which  they  had  before  gainsaid.  Thus  will  GOD 
seal  up  the  hearts  of  the  unbelievers.  And  we  found  not  in 
the  greater  part  of  them  any  observance  of  their  covenant ; 
but  we  found  the  greater  part  of  them  wicked  doers.  Then 
we  sent  after  the  above  named  apostles,  Moses  with  our  signs 
unto  Pharaoh  and  his  princes ;  who  treated  them  unjustly  : 
but  behold  what  was  the  end  of  the  corrupt  doers. l  And 
Moses  said,  O  Pharaoh,  verily  I  am  an  apostle  sent  from  the 
LORD  of  all  creatures.  It  is  just  that  I  should  not  speak 
of  GOD  other  than  the  truth.  Now  am  I  come  unto  you 
with  an  evident  sign  from  your  LORD  :  send  therefore  the 
children  of  Israel  away  with  me.  Pharaoh  answered,  If 
thou  comest  with  a  sign,  produce  it,  if  thou  speakest  truth. 
Wherefore  he  cast  down  his  rod ;  and  behold,  it  became  a 
visible  serpent.2  And  he  drew  forth  his  hand  out  of  hit' 
fosom ;  and  behold,  it  appeared  white  unto  the  spectators.*/ 
The  chiefs  of  the  people  of  Pharaoh  said,  This  man  is  cer-' 
tainly  an  expert  magician  :  he  seeketh  to  dispossess  you  of 
your  land  ;  what  therefore  do  ye  direct  ?  They  answered, 
Put  off  him  and  his  brother  by  fair  promises  for  some  time, 
and  in  the  mean  while  send  unto  the  cities  persons  who  may 
assemble  and  bring  unto  thee  every  expert  magician.  So 
the  magicians  came  unto  Pharaoh ;  and  they  said,  Shall  we 
Burely  receive  a  reward,  if  we  do  overcome  ?  He  answered, 
Yea ;  and  ye  shall  certainly  be  of  those  who  approach  near 
unto  my  throne.  They  said,  O  Moses,  either  do  thou  cast 


AL  KOKAN.  157 

down  thy  rod  first,  or  we  will  cast  down  ours.  Moses  an- 
swered, Do  ye  cast  down  your  rods  first.  And  when  they 
had  cast  them  down,  they  enchanted  the  eyes  of  the  men  who 
were  present,  and  terrified  them  :  and  they  performed  a  great 
enchantment.  And  we  spake  by  revelation  unto  Moses, 
saying,  Throw  down  thy  rod.  And  behold,  it  swallowed  up 
the  rods  which  they  had  caused  falsely  to  appear  changed 
into  serpents.  Wherefore  the  truth  was  confirmed,  and  that 
which  they  had  wrought  vanished.  And  Pharaoh  and  his 
magicians  were  overcome  there,  and  were  rendered  con- 
temptible. And  the  magicians  prostrated  themselves,  wor- 
shipping ;  and  they  said,  We  believe  in  the  LORD  of  all 
creatures,  the  LORD  of  Moses  and  Aaron.1  Pharaoh  said, 
Have  ye  believed  on  him,  before  I  have  given  you  permis- 
sion ?  Verily  this  is  a  plot  which  ye  have  contrived  in  the 
city,  that  ye  might  cast  forth  from  thence  the  inhabitants 
thereof.  But  ye  shall  surely  know  that  I  am  your  master ; 
for  I  will  cause  your  hands  and  your  feet  to  be  cut  off  on  the 
opposite  sides,  then  will  I  cause  you  all  to  be  crucified.  The 
magicians  answered,  We  shall  certainly  return  unto  our 
LORD,  in  the  next  life ;  for  thou  takest  vengeance  on  us 
only  because  we  have  believed  in  the  signs  of  our  LORD, 
when  they  have  come  unto  us.  O  LORD,  pour  on  us  patience ; 
and  cause  us  to  die  Moslems.  And  the  chiefs  of  Pharaoh's 
people  said,  Wilt  thou  let  Moses  and  his  people  go,  that  they 
may  act  corruptly  in  the  earth,  and  leave  thee  and  thy  gods  ? 
Pharaoh  answered,  We  will  cause  their  male  children  to  be 
slain,  and  we  will  suffer  their  females  to  live ;  and  by  that 
means  we  shall  prevail  over  them.  Moses  said  unto  his 
people,  Ask  assistance  of  GOD,  and  suffer  patiently :  for  the 
earth  is  God's,  he  giveth  it  for  an  inheritance  unto  such  of  his 
servants  as  he  pleaseth  ;  and  the  prosperous  end  shall  be  unto 
those  who  fear  him.  They  answered,  We  have  been  afflicted 
by  having  our  male  children  slain,  before  thou  earnest  unto  us, 
and  also  since  thou  hast  come  unto  us.  Moses  said,  Perad- 
venture  it  may  happen  that  our  LORD  will  destroy  your 
enemy,  and  will  cause  you  to  succeed  him  in  the  earth,  that 
he  may  see  how  ye  will  act  therein.  And  we  formerly  pun- 
ished the  people  of  Pharaoh  with  dearth  and  scarcity  of 
uruits,  that  they  might  be  warned.  Yet  when  good  happened 
unto  them,  they  said,  This  is  owing  unto  us  :  but  if  evil  befell 
them,  they  attributed  the  same  to  the  ill  luck  of  Moses,  and 


158  AL  KORAN. 

those  who  were  with  him.  Was  not  their  ill  luck  with  GOD  ? 
But  most  of  them  knew  it  not.  And  they  said  unto  Muses, 
Whatever  sign  thou  show  unto  us,  to  enchant  us  therewith,  we 
will  not  believe  on  thee.  Wherefore  we  sent  upon  them  a  flood 
and  locusts,  and  lice,  and  frogs,  and  blood  ;  distinct  miracles  : 
but  they  behaved  proudly,  and  became  a  wicked  people.1  And 
when  the  plague  fell  on  them,  they  said,  O  Moses,  entreat  thy 
LORD  for  us,  according  to  that  which  he  hath  covenanted  with 
thee ;  verily  if  thou  take  the  plague  from  off  us,  we  will 
surely  believe  thee,  and  we  will  let  the  children  of  Israel  go 
with  'thee.  But  when  we  had  taken  the  plague  from  off  them 
until  the  term  which  God  had  granted  them  was  expired,  be- 
hold they  broke  their  promise.  Wherefore  we  took  vengeance 
on  them,  and  drowned  them  in  the  Red  Sea ;  because  they 
charged  our  signs  with  falsehood,  and  neglected  them.  And 
we  caused  the  people  who  had  been  rendered  weak  to  inherit 
the  eastern  parts  of  the  earth  and  the  western  parts  thereof, 
which  we  blessed  with  fertility  ;  and  the  gracious  word  of 
thy  LORD  was  fulfilled  on  the  children  of  Israel,  for  that  they 
had  endured  with  patience  :  and  we  destroyed  the  structures 
which  Pharaoh  and  his  people  had  made,  and  that  which  they 
had  erected.  And  we  caused  the  children  of  Israel  to  pass 
through  the  sea,  and  they  came  unto  a  people  who  gave  them- 
selves up  to  the  worship  of  their  idols,  and  they  said,  O 
Moses,  make  us  a  god,  in  like'  manner  as  these  people  have 
gods.  Moses  answered,  Verily  ye  are  an  ignorant  people: 
for  the  religion  which  these  follow  will  be  destroyed,  and  that 
which  they  do  is  vain.  He  said,  Shall  I  seek  for  you  any 
other  god  than  GOD  ;  since  he  hath  preferred  you  to  the  rest 
of  the  world  ?  And  remember  when  we  delivered  you  from 
the  people  of  Pharaoh,  who  grievously  oppressed  you  ;  they 
slew  your  male  children,  and  let  your  females  live :  therein 
was  a  great  trial  from  your  LORD.  And  we  appointed  unto 
Mcses  a  fast  of  thirty  nights  before  we  gave  him  the  law,  and 
we  completed  them  by  adding  of  ten  more ;  and  the  stated 
time  of  his  LORD  was  fulfilled  in  forty  nights.  And  Moses 
said  unto  his  brother  Aaron,  Be  thou  my  deputy  among  my 
people  during  my  absence  ;  and  behave  uprightly,  and  follow 
not  the  way  of  the  corrupt  doers.  And  when  Moses  came  at 
our  appointed  time,  and  his  LORD  spake  unto  him,  he  said,  0 
LORD,  show  me  thy  glory,  that  I  may  behold  thee.  God 
inswereth,  Thou  shalt  in  no  wise  behold  me  ;  but  look  tow- 


AL  KORAN.  159 

&rds  the  mountain,  and  if  it  stand  firm  in  its  place,  then 
thou  shalt  see  me.  But  when  his  LORD  appeared  with  glory 
in  the  mount,  he  reduced  it  to  dust.  And  Moses  fell  down  in 
a  swoon.  And  when  he  came  to  himself,  he  said,  Praise  be 
unto  thee  !  I  turn  unto  thee  with  repentence,  and  I  am  the 
first  of  true  believers.  God  said  unto  him,  O  Moses,  I  have 
chosen  thee  above  all  men,  by  honoring  thee  with  my  com- 
missions, and  by  ray  speaking  unto  thee:  receive  therefore 
that  which  I  have  brought  thee,  and  be  one  of  those  who  give 
thanks.  And  we  wrote  for  him  on  the  tables  an  admonition 
concerning  every  matter,  and  a  decision  in  every  case,  and. 
said,  Receive  this  with  reverence  ;  and  command  thy  people 
that  they  live  according  to  the  most  excellent  precepts  thereof.1 
I  will  show  you  the  dwelling  of  the  wicked.  I  will  turn  aside 
from  my  signs  those  who  behave  themselves  proudly  in  the 
earth,  without  justice  :  and  although  they  see  every  sign,  yet 
they  shall  not  believe  therein  ;  and  although  they  see  the 
way  of  righteousness,  yet  they  shall  not  take  that  way ;  but  if 
they  see  the  way  of  error,  they  shall  take  that  way.  This 
thall  come  to  pass  because  they  accuse  our  signs  of  imposture, 
and  neglect  the  same.  But  as  for  them  who  deny  the  truth 
of  our  signs  and  the  meeting  of  the  life  to  come,  their  works 
shall  be  vain :  shall  they  be  rewarded  otherwise  than  accord- 
ing to  what  they  shall  have  wrought  ?  And  the  people  of 
Moses,  after  his  departure,  took  a  corporeal  calf,  made  of 
their  ornaments,  which  lowed.  Did  they  not  see  that  it  spake 
not  unto  them,  neither  directed  them  in  the  way  ?  yet  they 
took  it  for  their  god,  and  acted  wickedly.  But  when  they 
repented  with  sorrow,  and  saw  that  they  had  gone  astray, 
they  said,  Verily  if  our  LORD  have  not  mercy  upon  us,  and 
forgive  us  not,  we  shall  certainly  become  of  the  number  of 
those  who  perish.  And  when  Moses  returned  unto  his 
people,  full  of  wrath  and  indignation,  he  said,  An  evil  thing 
is  it  that  ye  have  committed  after  my  departure  ;  have  ye 
hastened  the  command  of  your  LORD  ?  And  he  threw  down 
the  tables,  and  took  his  brother  by  the  hair  of  the  head,  and 
dragged  him  unto  him.  And  Aaron  said  unto  him,  Son  of 
my  mother,  verily  the  people  prevailed  against  me,  and  it 
wanted  little  but  they  had  slain  me :  make  not  my  enemies 
'herefore  to  rejoice  over  me,  neither  place  me  with  the  wicked 
people.  Moses  said,  O  LORD,  forgive  me  and  my  brother, 
uid  receive  us  into  thy  mercy  ;  for  thou  art  the  most  merci- 


160  AL  KORAN. 

ful  of  those  who  exercise  mercy.     Verily  as  for  them  wh« 
took  the  calf  for  their  god,  indignation  shall  overtake  them 
from  their  LORD,  and  ignominy  in  this  life :  thus   will   we 
reward  those  who  imagine  falsehood.     But  unto  them  who  do 
evil,  and  afterwards  repent,  and  believe  in   God,  verily  thy 
LORD  witt  thereafter  be  clement  and  merciful.     And  when 
the  anger  of  Moses  was  appeased,  he  took  the  tables  ;  and  in 
what  was  written  thereon  was  a  direction  and  mercy,  unto 
those  who  feared  their  LORD.     And  Moses  chose  out  of  his 
people  seventy  men,  to  go  up  with  him  to  the  mountain  at 
the  time  appointed  by  us :  and  when  a  storm  of  thunder  and 
lightning  had  taken  them  away,  he  said,  O  LORD,  if  thou 
hadst  pleased,  thou  hadst  destroyed  them  before,  and  me  also ; 
wilt  thou  destroy  us  for  that  which  the  foolish  men  among  us 
have  committed  ?     This  is  only  thy  trial ;  thou  wilt  thereby 
lead  into   error  whom  thou   pleasest,   and  thou   wilt   direct 
whom  thou  pleasest.     Thou  art  our  protector,  therefore  for- 
give us,  and  be  merciful  unto  us ;  for  thou  art  the  best  of 
those  who  forgive.      And  write  down    for  us  good  in    this 
world,  and  in  the  life  to  come  ;  for  unto  thee  are  we  directed. 
God  answered,  I    will  inflict  my  punishment  on   whom   I 
please  ;  and  my  mercy  extendeth  over  all  things  ;  and  I  will 
write  down  good  unto  those  who  shall  fear  me,  and  give  alms, 
and  who   shall  believe  in  our  signs ;   who  shall   follow  the 
apostle,  the  illiterate  prophet,  whom  they  shall  find  written 
down  with  them  in  the  law  and  the  gospel :  he  will  command 
them  that  which  is  just,  and  will  forbid  them  that  which  is 
evil ;  and  will  allow  them  as  lawful  the  good  things  which 
were  before  forbidden,  and  will  prohibit  those  which  are  bad  ; 
and  he  will  ease  them  of  their  heavy  burden,  and  of  the  yokes 
which  were  upon  them.     And  those  who  believe  in  him,  and 
honor  him,  and  assist  him,  and  follow   the  light,  which  hath 
been    sent    down  with  him,  shatt  be  happy.     Say,   0    men, 
Verily  I  am  the  messenger  of  GOD  unto  you  all :  unto  him 
belongeth  the  kingdom  of  heaven  and  earth  ;  there  is  no  GOD 
but  he  :  he  giveth  life,  and  he  causeth  to  die.     Believe  there- 
fore  in  GOD  and  his  apostle,  the  illiterate  prophet,  who  be- 
lieveth  in  GOD  and  his  word ;  and  follow  him,  that  ye  may 
be  rightly  directed.     Of  the  people  of  Moses  there  is  a  party 
who  direct  others  with  truth,  and  act  justly  according  to  the 
same.     And  we  divided  them  into  twelve  tribes,  as  into  so 
many  nations.      And  we  spake  by  revelation  unto   Mases, 


AL  KORAN.  161 

when  his  people  asked  drink  of  him,  and  we  said,  Strike  the 
rock  with  thy  rod ;  and  there  gushed  thereout  twelve  foun- 
tains, and  men  knew  their  respective  drfaking-place.  And  we 
caused  clouds  to  overshadow  them,  and  manna  and  quails  to 
descend  upon  them,  saying,  Eat  of  the  good  things  which  we 
have  given  you  for  food :  and  they  injured  not  us,  but  they 
injured  their  own  souls.  And  call  to  mind  when  it  was  said 
unto  them,  Dwell  in  this  city,  and  eat  of  the  provision* 
thereof  wherever  ye  will,  and  say,  Forgiveness  ;  and  enter 
the  gate  worshipping :  we  will  pardon  you  your  sins,  and  will 
give  increase  unto  the  well-doers.  But  they  who  were  un- 
godly among  them  changed  the  expression  into  another,  which 
had  not  been  spoken  unto  them.  Wherefore  we  sent  down 
upon  them  indignation  from  heaven,  because  they  trans- 
gressed. And  ask  them  concerning  the  city,  which  was 
situate  on  the  sea,  when  they  transgressed  on  the  Sabbath- 
day  :  when  their  fish  came  unto  them  on  their  Sabbath-day, 
appearing  openly  on  the  water :  but  on  the  day  whereon  they 
celebrated  no  Sabbath,  they  came  not  unto  them.  Thus  did 
we  prove  them,  because  they  were  wicked-doers.  And  when 
a  party  of  them  said  unto  the  others,  Why  do  ye  warn  a 
people  whom  GOD  will  destroy,  or  will  punish  with  a  grievous 
punishment  ?  They  answered,  This  is  an  excuse  for  tis  unto 
your  LORD,  and  peradventure  they  will  beware.  But  when 
they  had  forgotten  the  admonitions  which  had  been  given 
them,  we  delivered  those  who  forbade  them  to  do  evil ;  and  we 
inflicted  on  those  who  had  transgressed  a  severe  punishment, 
because  they  had  acted  wickedly.  And  when  they  proudly 
refused  to  desist  from  what  had  been  forbidden  them,  we  said 
unto  them,  Be  ye  transformed  into  apes,  driven  away  from 
the  society  of  men.  And  remember  when  thy  LORD  declared 
that  he  would  surely  send  against  the  Jews  until  the  day  of 
resurrection,  some  nation  who  should  afflict  them  with  a 
grievous  oppression  :  for  thy  LORD  is  swift  in  punishing,  and 
he  is  also  ready  to  forgive,  and  merciful :  and  we  dispersed 
them  among  the  nations  in  the  earth.  Some  of  them  are  up- 
right persons,  and  some  of  them  are  otherwise.  And  we 
proved  them  with  prosperity  and  with  adversity,  that  they 
night  return  from  their  disobedience ;  and  a  succession  of 
their  posterity  hath  succeeded  after  them,  who  have  inherited 
the  book  of  the  law,  who  receive  the  temporal  goods  of  thi» 
world,  and  say,  It  will  surely  be  forgiven  us  :  and  if  a  tern 
11 


1(12  AJL  KORAN. 

poral  advantage  like  the  former  be  offered  them,  they  accept 
;t  oho.  Is  it  not  the  covenant  of  the  book  of  the  law  estab- 
lished with  them,  that  they  should  not  speak  of  GOD  aught 
but  the  truth  ?  Yet  they  diligently  read  that  which  is  therein. 
But  the  enjoyment  of  the  next  life  will  be  better  for  those 
who  fear  God  than  the  wicked  gains  of  these  people :  (Do  ye 
not  therefore  understand  ?)  and  for  those  who  hold  fast  the 
book  of  the  law,  and  are  constant  at  prayer :  for  we  will  by 
no  means  suffer  the  reward  of  the  righteous  to  perish.  And 
when  we  shook  the  mountain  of  Sinai  over  them,  as  though 
it  had  been  a  covering,  and  they  imagined,  that  it  was  falling 
upon  them ;  and  we  said,  Receive  the  law  which  we  have 
brought  you  with  reverence ;  and  remember  that  which  is 
contained  therein,  that  ye  may  take  heed.  And  when  thy 
LORD  drew  forth  their  posterity  from  the  loins  of  the  sons  of 
Adam,  and  took  them  to  witness  against  themselves,  saying, 
Am  not  I  your  LORD  F1  They  answered,  Yea :  we  do  bear 
witness.  This  was  done  lest  ye  should  say,  at  the  day  of 
resurrection,  Verily  we  were  negligent  as  to  this  matter,  be- 
cause we  were  not  apprised  thereof :  or  lest  ye  should  say, 
Verily  our  fathers  were  formerly  guilty  of  idolatry,  and  we 
are  their  posterity  who  have  succeeded  them  ;  wilt  thou  there- 
fore destroy  us  for  that  which  vain  men  have  committed? 
Thus  do  we  explain-  our  signs,  that  they  may  return  from 
their  vanities.  And  relate  unto  the  Jews  the  history  of  him 
unto  whom  we  brought  our  signs,  and  the  departed  from 
them ;  wherefore  Satan  followed  him,  and  he  became  one  of 
those  who  were  seduced.  And  if  we  had  pleased,  we  had 
surely  raised  .him  thereby  unto  wisdom  ;  but  he  inclined  unto 
the  earth,  and  followed  his  own  desire.  "Wherefore  his 
likeness  as  the  likeness  of  a  dog,  which,  if  thou  drive  him 
away,  putteth  forth  his  tongue,  or,  if  thou  let  him  alone, 
putteth  forth  his  tongue  also.  This  is  the  likeness  of  the 
people,  who  accuse  our  signs  of  falsehood.  Rehearse  there- 
fore this  history  unto  them,  that  they  may  consider.  Evil  is 
the  similitude  of  those  people  who  accuse  our  signs  of  false- 
hood, and  injure  their  own  souls.  Whomsoever  GOD  shall 
direct,  he  will  be  rightly  directed  ;  and  whomsoever  he  shall 
lead  astray,  they  shall  perish.  Moreover  we  have  created 
for  hell  many  of  the  genii  and  of  men  ;  they  have  hearts  by 
which  they  understand  not,  and  they  have  eyes  by  which 
they  see  not :  and  they  have  ears  by  which  they  hear  not, 


AL  KORAN.  163 

These  are  like  the  brute  beasts ;  yea  they  go  mare  astray 
these  are  the  negligent.  GOD  hath  most  excellent  names 
therefore  call  on  him  by  the  same ;  and  withdraw  from  those 
who  use  his  name  perversely :  they  shall  be  rewarded  for 
that  which  they  shall  have  wrought  And  of  those  whom  we 
have  created  there  are  a  people  who  direct  others  with  truth, 
and  act  justly  according  thereto.  But  those  who  devise  lies 
against  our  signs,  we  will  suffer  them  to  fall  gradually  into 
ruin,  by  a  method  which  they  knew  not :  and  I  will  grant 
them  to  enjoy  a  long  and  prosperous  life ;  for  my  stratagem 
is  effectual.  Do  they  not  consider  that  there  is  no  devil  in 
their  companion  ?  He  is  no  other  than  a  public  preacher. 
Or  do  they  not  contemplate  the  kingdom  of  heaven  and  earth, 
and  the  things  which  GOD  hath  created ;  and  consider  that 
perad  venture  it  may  be  that  their  end  draweth  nigh  ?  And 
in  what  new  declaration  will  they  believe,  after  this?  He 
whom  GOD  shall  cause  to  err,  shall  have  no  director  ;  and  he 
shall  leave  them  in  their  impiety,  wandering  in  confusion. 
They  will  ask  thee  concerning  the  last  hour ;  at  what  time  its 
coming  is  fixed  ?  Answer,  Verily  the  knowledge  thereof  ia 
with  my  LORD  ;  none  shall  declare  the  fixed  time  thereof, 
except  he.  The  expectation  thereof  is  grievous  in  heaven 
and  on  earth :  it  shall  come  upon  you  no  otherwise  than 
suddenly.  They  will  ask  thee,  as  though  thou  wast  well 
acquitted  therewith.  Answer,  Verily  the  knowledge  there- 
of is  with  GOD  alone :  but  the  greater  part  of  men  know  it 
not.  Say,  I  am  able  neither  to  procure  advantage  unto  my- 
seK,  aor  to  avert  mischiefs/Tom  me,  but  as  GOD  pleaseth.  If 
f  knew  the  secrets  of  God,  I  should  surely  enjoy  abundance 
of  good,  neither  should  evil  befall  me.  Verily  I  am  no  other 
than  a  denouncer  of  threats,  and  a  messenger  of  good  tidings 
unto  people  who  believe.  It  is  he  who  hath  created  you 
from  one  person,  and  out  of  him  produced  his  wife,  that  he 
might  dwell  with  her  :  and  when  he  had  known  her,  she 
carried  a  light  burden  for  a  time,  wherefore  she  walked 
easily  therewith.  But  when  it  became  more  heavy,  sh«j  called 
upon  GOD  their  LORD,  saying,  If  thou  give  us  a  child  rightly 
shaped,  we  will  surely  be  thankful.1  Yet  when  he  had 
given  them  a  child  rightly  shaped,  they  attributed  com- 
panions unto  him,  for  that  which  he  had  given  them.  But 
far  be  that  from  GOD,  which  they  associated  with  him! 
Will  they  associate  with  him  false  gods  which  create  nothing 


164  AL  KORAN. 

but  are  themselves  created  ;  and  can  neither  give  them  assis- 
tance, nor  help  themselves  ?  And  if  ye  invite  them  to  the 
true  direction,  they  will  not  follow  you  :  it  will  be  equal  unto 
you,  whether  ye  invite  them,  or  whether  ye  hold  your  peace. 
Verily  the  false  deities  whom  ye  invoke  besides  GOD  are 
servants  like  unto  you.  Call  therefore  upon  them,  and  let 
them  give  you  an  answer,  if  ye  speak  truth.  Have  they  feet, 
to  walk  with  ?  Or  have  they  hands,  to  lay  hold  with  ?  Or 
have  they  eyes,  to  see  with  ?  Or  have  they  ears,  to  hear 
with)'  Say,  Call  upon  your  companions,  and  then  lay  a 
snare  for  me,  and  defer  it  not ;  for  GOD  is  my  protector 
who  sent  down  the  book  of  the  Koran ;  and  he  protectetL 
the  righteous.  But  they  whom  ye  invoke  besides  him  cannot 
assist  you,  neither  do  they  help  themselves  ;  and  if  ye  call 
on  them  to  direct  you,  they  will  not  hear.  Thou  seest  them 
look  towards  thee,  but  they  see  not.  Use  indulgence,  and 
command  that  which  is  just,  and  withdraw  far  from  the  igno- 
rant. And  if  an  evil  suggestion  from  Satan  be  suggested 
unto  thee,  to  divert  thee  from  thy  duty,  have  recourse  unto 
GOD  :  for  he  heareth  and  knoweth.  Verily  they  who  fear 
God,  when  a  temptation  from  Satan  assaileth  them,  remember 
the  divine  commands,  and  behold,  they  clearly  see  the  danger 
of  sin  and  the  wiles  of  the  devil.  But  as  for  the  brethren  of 
thi  devils,  they  shall  continue  them  in  error;  and  afterwards 
they  shall  not  preserve  themselves  therefrom.  And  when 
thou  bringest  not  a  verse  of  the  Koran  unto  them,  they  say, 
Hast  thou  not  put  it  together  ?  Answer,  I  follow  that  only 
which  is  revealed  unto  me  from  my  LORD.  This  book  con- 
taineth  evident  proofs  from  your  LORD,  and  is  a  direction 
and  mercy  unto  people  who  believe.  And  when  the  Koran 
is  read,  attend  thereto,  and  keep  silence  ;  that  ye  may  obtain 
mercy.  And  meditate  on  thy  LORD  in  thine  own  mind,  with 
humility  and  fear,  and  without  loud  speaking,  evening  and 
morning;  and  be  not  one  of  the  negligent.  Moreover  the 
angels  who  are  with  my  LORD  do  not  proudly  disdain  his 
service,  but  they  celebrate  his  praise  and  worship  him. 


AL  KORAN.  165 

CHAPTEB  VUL 

THE    SPOILS  J    REVEALED    AT   MEDINA. 
Ilf    THE    JTAMK    OF   THB  MOST   MBRCIJCL   GOD. 

THEY  will  ask  thee  concerning  the  spoils :  Answer,  The 
division  of  the  spoils  behngeth  unto  GOD  and  the  apostle. 
Therefore  fear  GOD,  and  compose  the  matter  amicably  among 
you  :  and  obey  GOD  and  his  apostle,  if  ye  are  true  believers. 
Verily  the  true  believers  are  those  whose  hearts  fear  when 
GOD  is  mentioned,  and  whose  faith  increaseth  when  his  signs 
are  rehearsed  unto  them,  and  who  trust  in  their  LORD  ;  who 
observe  the  stated  times  of  prayer,  and  give  alms  out  of  that 
which  we  have  bestowed  on  them.  These  are  really  be- 
lievers :  they  shall  have  superior  degrees  of  felicity  with  their 
LORD,  and  forgiveness,  and  an  honorable  provision.  As  thy 
LORD  brought  thee  forth  from  thy  house,  with  truth ;  and 
part  of  the  believers  were  averse  to  thy  directions :  they  dis- 
puted with  thee  concerning  the  truth,  after  it  had  been  made 
known  unto  them ;  no  otherwise  than  as  if  they  had  been  led 
forth  to  death,  and  had  seen  it  with  their  eyes.  And  call  to 
mind  when  GOD  promised  you  one  of  the  two  parties,  that 
it  should  be  delivered  unto  you,  and  ye  desired  that  the  party 
which  was  not  furnished  with  arms  should  be  delivered  unto 
you  :  but  GOD  purposed  to  make  known  the  truth  in  his 
words,  and  to  cut  off  the  uttermost  part  of  the  unbelievers ; 
that  he  might  verify  the  truth,  and  destroy  falsehood,  although 
the  wicked  were  averse  thereto.  When  ye  asked  assistance 
of  your  LORD,  and  he  answered  you,  Verily  I  will  assist  you 
with  a  thousand  angels,  following  one  another  in  order.  And 
this  GOD  designed  only  as  good  tidings  for  you,  and  that  yo'.-r 
hearts  might  thereby  rest  secure  :  for  victory  is  from  GOD 
alone;  and  GOD  is  mighty  and  wise.  When  a  sleep  fell  on 
you  as  a  security  from  him,  and  he  sent  down  upon  you 
water  from  heaven,  that  he  might  thereby  purify  you,  and 
take  from  you  the  abomination  of  Satan,  and  that  he  might 
confirm  your  hearts,  and  establish  your  feet  thereby.1  Also 
when  thy  LORD  spake  unto  the  angels,  saying,  Verily  I  am 
with  you  ;  wherefore  confirm  those  who  believe.  I  will  cast 
A  dr  ;ad  into  the  hearts  of  the  unbelievers.  Therefore  strike 


168  AL  KORAN. 

off  their  heads,  and  strike  off  all  the  ends  of  their 
This  shall  they  suffer,  because  they  have  resisted  GOD  and 
his  apostle :  and  whosoever  shall  oppose  GOD  and  his  apostle, 
verily  GOD  will  be  severe  in  punishing  him.  This  shall  be 
your  punishment ;  taste  it  therefore :  and  the  infidels  shall 
also  suffer  the  torment  of  hell  fire.  O  true  believers,  when 
ye  meet  the  unbelievers  marching  in  great  numbers  agaimt 
you,  turn  not  your  backs  unto  them :  for  whoso  shall  turn  his 
back  unto  them  in  that  day,  unless  he  turneth  aside  to  fight, 
or  retreateth  to  another  party  of  the  faithful,  shall  draw  on 
himself  the  indignation  of  GOD,  and  his  abode  shall  be  in 
hell ;  an  ill  journey  shall  it  be  thither !  And  ye  slew  not 
those  who  were  slain  at  Bedr  yourselves,  but  GOD  slew  them. 
Neither  didst  thou,  0  Mohammed  cast  the  gravel  into  their 
eyes,  when  thou  didst  seem  to  cast  it ;  but  GOD  cast  it,  that 
he  might  prove  the  true  believers  by  a  gracious  trial  from 
himself ',  for  GOD  heareth  and  knoweth.  This  was  done  that 
GOD  might  also  weaken  the  crafty  devices  of  the  unbelievers. 
If  ye  desire  a  decision  of  the  matter  between  us,  now  hath  a 
decision  come  unto  you  :  and  if  ye  desist  from  opposing  the 
apostle,  it  will  be  better  for  you.  But  if  ye  return  to  attack 
him,  we  will  also  return  to  his  assistance  ;  and  your  forces 
shall  not  be  of  advantage  unto  you  at  all,  although  they  be 
numerous  ;  for  GOD  is  with  the  faithful.  O  true  believers, 
obey  GOD  and  his  apostle,  and  turn  not  back  from  him,  since 
ye  hear  the  admonitions  of  the  Koran.  And  be  not  as  those 
who  say,  We  hear,  when  they  do  not  hear.  Verily  the  worst 
tort  of  beasts  in  the  sight  of  GOD  are  the  deaf  and  the  dumb, 
who  understand  not  If  GOD  had  known  any  good  in  them, 
ha  would  certainly  have  caused  them  to  hear:  and  if 
he  had  caused  them  to  hear,  they  would  surely  have 
turned  back,  and  have  retired  afar  off.  O  true  believ- 
ers, answer  GOD  and  his  apostle,  when  he  inviteth  you 
unto  that  which  giveth  you  life ;  and  know  that  GOD  goeth 
between  a  man  and  his  heart,  and  that  before  him  ye  shall  be 
assembled.  Beware  of  sedition  ;  it  will  not  affect  those  who 
are  ungodly  among  you  particularly,  but  all  of  you  in  general; 
and  know  that  GOD  is  severe  in  punishing.  And  remember 
when  ye  were  few,  and  reputed  weak  in  the  land ;  ye  feared 
lest  men  should  snatch  you  away :  but  God  provided  you 
a  place  of  refuge,  and  he  strengthened  you  with  his  assis- 
tance, and  bestowed  on  you  good  things,  that  ye  might  give 


A.L  KORAN.  167 

thanks.  O  true  believers,  deceive  not  GOD  and  his  apostle 
neither  violate  your  faith  against  your  own  knowledge.  And 
know  that  your  wealth  and  your  children  are  a  temptation 
unto  you  ;  and  that  with  GOD  is  a  great  reward.  O  true  be- 
lievers, if  ye  fear  GOD,  he  will  grant  you  a  distinction,  and 
will  expiate  your  sins  from  you,  and  will  forgive  you ;  for 
GOD  is  endued  with  great  liberality.  And  call  to  mind  when 
the  unbelievers  plotted  against  thee,  that  they  might  either 
detain  thee  in  bonds,  or  put  to  death,  or  expel  thee  the  city  ;  and 
they  plotted  against  thee :  but  GOD  laid  a  plot  against  them  ; 
and  GOD  is  the  best  layer  of  plots.  And  when  our  signs  are 
repeated  unto  them,  they  say,  We  have  heard ;  if  we  pleased 
we  could  certainly  pronounce  a  composition  like  unto  this : 
this  is  nothing  but  fables  of  the  ancients.  And  when  they 
Baid,  0  GOD,  if  this  be  the  truth  from  thee,  rain  down  stones 
upon  us  from  heaven,  or  inflict  on  us  some  other  grievous 
punishment.  But  GOD  was  not  disposed  to  punish  them, 
while  thou  wast  with  them :  nor  was  GOD  disposed  to  punish 
them  when  they  asked  pardon.  But  they  have  nothing  to 
offer  in  excuse  why  GOD  should  not  punish  them,  since  they 
hindered  the  believers  from  visiting  the  holy  temple,  although 
they  are  not  the  guardians  thereof.  The  guardians  thereof 
are  those  only  who  fear  God ;  but  the  greater  part  of  them 
know  it  not.  And  their  prayer  at  the  house  of  God  is  no 
other  than  whistling  and  clapping  of  the  hands.  Taste  there- 
fore the  punishment,  for  that  ye  have  been  unbelievers.  They 
who  believe  not  expend  their  wealth  to  obstruct  the  way  of 
GOD  :  they  shall  expend  it,  but  afterwards  it  shall  become 
matter  of  sighing  and  regret  unto  them,  and  at  length  they 
shall  be  overcome ;  and  the  unbelievers  shall  be  gathered  to- 
gether into  hell ;  that  GOD  may  distinguish  the  wicked  from 
the  good,  and  may  throw  the  wicked  one  upon  the  other,  and 
may  gather  them  all  in  a  heap,  and  cast  them  into  hell. 
These  are  they  who  shall  perish.  Say  unto  the  unbelievers, 
that  if  they  desist  from  opposing  thee,  what  is  already  past 
shall  be  forgiven  them ;  but  if  they  return  to  attack  thee,  the 
exemplary  punishment  of  the  former  opposers  of  the  prophett 
»s  already  past,  and  the  like  shall  be  inflicted  on  them.  There- 
fore fight  against  them  until  there  be  no  opposition  in  favor 
9f  idolatry,  and  the  religion  be  wholly  GOD'S.  If  they  de- 
•ist,  verily  GOD  seeth  that  which  they  do ;  but  if  they  turn 
back,  know  that  GOD  is  your  patron  ;  he  it  the  best  patron, 


168  AL  KORAN. 

»nd  the  beat  helper.  And  know  that  whenever  ye  gain  any 
gpoils,  a  fifth  part  thereof  belongeth  unto  GOD,  and  to  the 
apostle,  and  his  kindred,  and  the  orphans,  and  the  poor,  and 
the  traveller ;  if  ye  believe  in  GOD,  and  that  which  we  have 
sent  down  unto  our  servant  on  the  day  of  distinction,  on  the 
day  whereon  the  two  armies  met:  and  GOD  is  almighty. 
When  ye  were  encamped  on  Ihe  hithermost  side  of  the  valley, 
and  they  were  encamped  on  the  farther  side,  and  the  caravan 
was  below  you  ;  and  if  ye  had  mutually  appointed  to  come  to 
a  battle  ye  would  certainly  have  declined  the  appointment ; 
but  ye  were  brought  to  an  engagement  without  any  previout 
appointment,  that  GOD  might  accomplish  the  thing  which  was 
decreed  to  be  done ;  that  he  who  perisheth  hereafter  may 
perish  after  demonstrative  evidence,  and  that  he  who  liveth 
may  live  by  the  same  evidence ;  GOD  both  heareth  and 
knoweth.  When  thy  LORD  caused  the  enemy  to  appear  unto 
thee  in  thy  sleep  few  in  number ;  and  if  he  had  caused  them 
to  appear  numerous  unto  thee,  ye  would  have  been  disheart- 
ened, and  would  have  disputed  concerning  the  matter :  but 
GOD  preserved  you  from  this;  for  he  knoweth  the  inner- 
most parts  of  the  breasts  of  men.  And  when  he  caused  them 
to  appear  unto  you  when  ye  met,  to  be  few  in  your  eyes  ;  and 
diminished  your  numbers  in  their  eyes  ;  that  GOD  might  ac- 
complish the  thing  which  was  decreed  to  be  done  ;  and  unto 
GOD  shall  all  things  return.  O  true  believers,  when  ye  meet 
a  party  of  the  infidels,  stand  firm,  and  remember  GOD  fre- 
quently, that  ye  may  prosper  :  and  obey  GOD  and  his  apostle, 
and  be  not  refractory,  lest  ye  be  discouraged,  and  your  suc- 
cess depart  from  you  ;  but  persevere  with  patience,  for  GOD 
it  with  those  who  persevere.  And  be  not  as  those  who  went 
out  of  their  houses  in  an  insolent  manner,  and  to  appear  with 
ostentation  unto  men,  and  turned  aside  from  the  way  of  GOD  ; 
for  GOD  comprehendeth  that  which  they  do.  And  remember 
when  Satan  prepared  their  works  for  them,  and  said,  No  man 
shall  prevail  against  you  to-day  ;  and  I  will  surely  be  near  to 
assist  you.  But  when  the  two  armies  appeared  in  sight  of 
each  other,  he  turned  back  on  his  heels,  and  said,  Verily  I  am 
clear  of  you :  I  certainly  see  that  which  ye  see  not ;  I  fear 
GOD,  for  GOD  is  severe  in  punishing.  When  the  hypo- 
crites, and  those  in  whose  hearts  there  was  an  infirmity,  said, 
Their  religion  hath  deceived  these  men :  but  whosoever  con- 
Ideth  in  GOD  cannot  be  deceived ;  for  GOD  is  mighty  and 


AL   KORAN.  169 

wise.  And  if  thou  didst  behold  when  the  angels  caused  th« 
unbelievers  to  die  :  they  strike  their  faces  and  their  backs, 
and  lay  unto  them,  Taste  ye  the  pain  of  burning :  this  shaft 
ye  suffer  for  that  which  your  hands  have  sent  before  you  ; 
and  because  GOD  is  not  unjust  to  wards  -his  servants.  These 
have  acted  according  to  the  wont  of  the  people  of  Pharaoh, 
and  of  those  before  them,  who  disbelieved  in  the  signs  of 
GOD  :  therefore '  GOD  took  them  away  in  their  iniquity ; 
for  GOD  is  mighty  and  severe  in  punishing.  This  hath 
come  to  pass  because  GOD  changeth  not  his  grace,  where- 
with he  hath  favored  any  people,  until  they  change  that 
which  is  in  their  souls ;  and  for  that  GOD  both  heareth  and 
seeth.  According  to  the  wont  of  the  people  of  Pharaoh, 
and  of  those  before  them,  who  charged  the  signs  of  their 
LORD  with  imposture,  have  they  acted:  wherefore  we  de- 
stroyed them  in  their  sins,  and  we  drowned  the  people  of 
Pharaoh ;  for  they  were  all  unjust  persons.  Verily  the  worst 
cattle  in  the  sight  of  GOD  are  those  who  are  obstinate  infi- 
dels, and  will  not  believe.  As  to  those  who  enter  into  a 
league  with  thee,  and  afterwards  violate  their  league  at  every 
convenient  opportunity,  and  fear  not  God ;  if  thou  take  them 
in  war,  disperse,  by  making  them  an  example,  those  who  shatt 
come  after  them,  that  they  may  be  warned  ;  or  if  thou  appre- 
hend treachery  from  any  people,  throw  back  their  league  unto 
them  with  like  treatment ;  for  GOD  loveth  not  the  treacherous. 
And  think  not  that  the  unbelievers  have  escaped  God's  ven- 
geance, for  they  shall  not  weaken  the  power  of  God.  There- 
fore prepare  against  them  what  force  ye  are  able,  and  troops  of 
horse,  whereby  ye  may  strike  a  terror  into  the  enemy  of  GOD, 
and  your  enemy,  and  into  other  infidels  besides  them,  whom 
ye  know  not,  but  GOD  knoweth  them.  And  whatsoever  ye 
shall  expend  in  the  defence  of  the  religion  of  GOD,  it  shall  be 
repaid  unto  you,  and  ye  shall  not  be  treated  unjustly.  And 
if  they  incline  unto  peace,  do  thou  also  incline  thereto ;  and 
put  thy  confidence  in  GOD,  for  it  is  he  who  heareth  and 
knoweth.  But  if  they  seek  to  deceive  thee,  verily  GOD  will 
be  thy  support.  It  is  he  who  hath  strengthened  thee  with  his 
help,  and  with  that  of  the  faithful ;  and  hath  united  their 
hearts.  If  thou  hadst  expended  whatever  riches  are  in  the 
earth,  thou  couldst  not  have  united  their  hearts,  but  GOD 
united  them ;  for  he  is  mighty  and  wise.  0  prophet,  GOD  ia 
thy  support,  and  such  of  the  true  believers  who  foUoweth 


170  AL  KORAN. 

thee.  0  prophet  stir  up  the  faithful  to  war :  if  twenty  of 
you  persevere  with  constancy,  they  shall  overcome  two  hun- 
dred, and  if  there  be  one  hundred  of  you,  they  shall  overcom* 
a  thousand  of  those  who  believe  not ;  because  they  are  a 
people  which  do  not  understand.  Now  hath  GOD  eased  you, 
for  he  knew  that  ye  were  weak.  If  there  be  an  hundred  of 
you  who  persevere  with  constancy,  they  shall  overcome  two 
hundred  ;  and  if  there  be  a  thousand  of  you,  they  shall  over- 
come two  thousand,  by  the  permission  of  GOD  ;  for  GOD  is 
with  those  who  persevere.  It  hath  not  been  granted  unto  any 
prophet,  that  he  should  possess  captives,  until  he  hath  made 
a  great  slaughter  of  the  infidels  in  the  earth.  Ye  seek  the 
accidental  goods  of  this  world,  but  GOD  regardeth  the  life  to 
come ;  and  GOD  is  mighty  and  wise.  Unless  a  revelation 
had  been  previously  delivered  from  GOD,  verily  a  severe 
punishment  had  been  inflicted  on  you,  for  the  ransom  which 
ye  took  from  the  captives  at  Bedr.  Eat  therefore  of  what  ye 
have  acquired,  that  which  is  lawful  and  good ;  for  GOD  is 
gracious  and  merciful.  O  prophet,  say  unto  the  captives  who 
are  in  your  hands,  If  GOD  shall  know  any  good  to  be  in  your 
hearts,  he  will  give  you  better  than  what  hath  been  taken 
from  you  ;  and  he  will  forgive  you,  for  GOD  is  gracious  and 
merciful.  But  if  they  seek  to  deceive  thee,  verily  they  have 
deceived  GOD  ;  wherefore  he  hath  given  thee  power  over 
them :  and  GOD  is  knowing  and  wise.  Moreover,  they  who 
have  believed,  and  have  fled  their  country,  and  employed 
their  substance  and  their  persons  in  fighting  for  the  religion 
of  GOD,  and  they  who  have  given  the  prophet  a  refuge  among 
them,  and  have  assisted  him,  these  shall  be  deemed  the  one 
nearest  of  kin  to  the  other.  But  they  who  have  believed, 
but  have  not  fled  their  country,  shall  have  no  right  of  kindred 
at  all  with  you,  until  they  also  fly.  Yet  if  they  ask  assistance 
of  you  on  account  of  religion,  it  belongeth  unto  you  to  give 
them  assistance ;  except  against  a  people  between  whom  and 
yourselves  there  shall  be  a  league  subsisting  :  and  GOD  seeth 
that  which  ye  do.  And  as  to  the  infidels  let  them  be  deemed 
of  kin  the  one  to  the  other.  Unless  ye  do  this,  there  will  be 
a  sedition  in  the  earth,  and  grievous  corruption.  But  as  for 
them  who  have  believed,  and  left  their  country,  and  have 
fought  for  GOD'S  true  religion,  and  who  have  allowed  tht 
prophet  a  retreat  among  them,  and  have  assisted  him,  these 
we  really  believers ;  they  shall  receive  mercy,  and  an  hon 


AL  KORAN.  171 

orable  provision.  And  they  who  have  believed  since,  and 
have  fled  their  country,  and  have  fought  with  you,  these  also 
are  of  you.  And  those  who  are  related  by  consanguinity 
thall  be  deemed  the  nearest  of  kin  to  each  other  preferably  to 
strangers  according  to  the  book  of  GOD  ;  GOD  knoweth  all 
things. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

IVTITLED,    THE    DECLARATION    OF    IMMUNITY;    KEVEALED 
AT   MEDINA. 

A  DECLARATION  of  immunity  from  GOD  and  his  apostle, 
unto  the  idolaters,  with  whom  ye  have  entered  into  league. 
Go  to  and  fro  in  the  earth  securely  four  months ;  and  know 
that  ye  shall  not  weaken  GOD,  and  that  GOD  will  disgrace 
the  unbelievers.  And  a  declaration  from  GOD  and  his  apostle 
unto  the  people,  on  the  day  of  the  greater  pilgrimage,  that 
GOD  is  clear  of  the  idolaters,  and  his  apostle  also.  Where- 
fore if  ye  repent,  this  will  be  better  for  you  ;  but  if  ye  turn 
back,  know  that  ye  shall  not  weaken  GOD  :  and  denounce 
unto  those  who  believe  not,  a  painful  punishment.  Except, 
such  of  the  idolaters  with  whom  ye  shall  have  entered  into  a 
league,  and  who  afterwards  shall  not  fail  you  in  any  instance, 
nor  assist  any  other  against  you.  Wherefore  perform  the 
covenant  which  ye  shall  have  made  with  them,  until  their  time 
$haU  be  elapsed  ;  for  GOD  loveth  those  who  fear  him.  And 
when  the  months  wherein  ye  are  not  allowed  to  attack  them 
shall  be  past,  kill  the  idolaters  wheresoever  ye  shall  find  them, 
and  take  them  prisoners,  and  besiege  them,  and  lay  wait  for 
them  in  every  convenient  place.  But  if  they  shall  repent, 
and  observe  the  appointed  times  of  prayer,  and  pay  the  legal 
alms,  dismiss  them  freely  :  for  GOD  is  gracious  and  mercif  uL 
And  if  any  of  the  idolaters  shall  demand  protection  of  thee, 
grant  him  protection,  that  he  may  hear  the  word  of  GOD  : 
and  afterwards  let  him  reach  the  place  of  his  security.  Thia 
thaU  thou  do,  because  they  are  people  which  know  not  the 
excellency  of  the  religion  thou  preachest.  How  shall  the 
idolaters  be  admitted  into  a  league  with  GOD  and  with  his 
apostle  ;  except  those  with  whom  ye  entered  into  a  league  at 
the  holy  temple.  So  long  as  they  behave  with  fidelity 


178  AL  KORAN. 

towards  you,  do  ye  alto  behave  with  fidelity  towards  them  f 
for  GOD   loveth   those   who  fear  him.     How   can   they  fa 
admitted  into  a  league  with  you,  since,  if  they  prevail  against 
you,  they  will  not  regard  in  you  either  consanguinity  or  faith  ? 
They  will  please  you  with  their  mouths,  but  their  hearts  will 
be  averse  from  you  ;  for  the  greater  part  of  them  are  wicked 
doers.     They  sell  the  signs  of  GOD  for  a  small  price,  and 
obstruct  his  way ;  it  is  certainly  evil  which  they  do.     They 
regard  not  in  a  believer  either  consanguinity  or  faith  ;  and 
these  are  the  transgressors.     Yet  if  they  repent,  and  observe 
the  appointed  times  of  prayer,  and  give  alms,  they  shall  be 
deemed  your  brethren  in  religion.     We  distinctly    propound 
our  signs  unto  people  who  understand.     But  if  they  violate 
their  oaths,  after  their  league,  and  revile  your  religion,  oppose 
the  leaders  of  infidelity  (for  there  is  no  trust  in  them),  that 
they   may   desist  from   their  treachery.     Will  ye   not   fight 
against  people  who  have  violated  their  oaths,  and  conspired  to 
expel  the  apostle  of  God ;  and  who  of  their  own  accord  as- 
saulted you  the  first  time  ?     Will  ye  fear  them  ?     But  it  is 
more  just  that  ye  should  fear  GOD,  if  ye  are  true  believers. 
Attack  them  therefore  ;  GOD  shall  punish  them  by  your  hand:?, 
and  will  cover  them  with  shame,  and  will  give  you  the  victory 
over  them  ;  and  he  will  heal  the  breasts  of  the  people  who 
believe,  and  will  take  away  the  indignation  of  their  hearts : 
for  GOD  will  be  turned  unto  whom  he  pleaseth ;  and   GOD 
w  knowing  and    wise.     Did  ye  imagine  that  ye  should  be 
abandoned,  whereas  GOD  did  not  yet  know  those  among  you 
who  fought  for  his  religion,  and  took  not  any  besides  Gou, 
and  his  apostle,  and  the  faithful  for  their  friends  ?     GOD  is 
well  acquainted  with  that  which  ye  do.     It  is  not  fitting  that 
the  idolaters  should  visit  the  temples  of  GOD,  being  witnesses 
against  their  own  souls  of  their  infidelity.     The  works  of  these 
men  are  vain:    and   they  shall  remain  in  hell  fire  forever. 
But  he  only  shall  visit  the  temples  of  GOD,  who  believeth  in 
GOD  and  the  last  day,  and  is  constant  at  prayer,  and  payeth 
•he  legal  alms,  and  feareth  GOD  alone.     These  perhaps  may 
become  of  the  number  of  those  who  are  rightly  directed.    Do 
ye  reckon  the  giving  drink  to  the  pilgrims,  and  the  visiting 
of  the  holy  temple,  to  be  actions  as  meritorious  as  those  per- 
formed by  him  who  believeth  in  GOD  and  the  last  day,  and 
Bghteth  for  the  religion  of  GOD  ?     They  shall  not  be  held 
equal   with   GOD  :  for  GOD   directeth   not  the    unrighteous 


AL  KORAN.  173 

people.  They  who  have  believed,  and  fled  their  country 
and  employed  their  substance  and  their  persons  in  the  defence 
of  GOD'S  true  religion,  shall  be  in  the  highest  degree  of 
honour  with  GOD  ;  and  these  are  they  who  shall  be  happy. 
Their  LORD  sendeth  them  good  tidings  of  mercy  from  him, 
and  good  will,  and  of  gardens  wherein  they  shall  enjoy  lasting 
pleasure :  they  shall  continue  therein  forever ;  for  with  GOD 
is  a  great  reward.  O  true  believers,  take  not  your  fathers  or 
your  brethren  for  friends,  if  they  love  infidelity  above  faith  ; 
and  whosoever  among  you  shall  take  them  for  his  friends, 
they  will  be  unjust  doers.  Say,  if  your  fathers,  and  your 
sons,  and  your  brethren,  and  your  wives,  and  your  relations, 
and  your  substance  which  ye  have  acquired,  and  your  mer- 
chandise which  ye  apprehend  may  not  be  sold  off,  and  you? 
dwellings  wherein  ye  delight,  be  more  dear  unto  you  than 
GOD,  and  his  apostle,  and  the  advancement  of  his  religion ; 
wait  until  GOD  shall  send  his  command,  for  GOD  directeth 
not  the  ungodly  people.  Now  hath  GOD  assisted  you  in 
many  engagements,  and  particularly  at  the  battle  of  Honein, 
when  ye  pleased  yourselves  in  your  multitude,  but  it  was  no 
manner  of  advantage  unto  you,  and  the  earth  became  too 
strait  for  you,  notwithstanding  it  was  spacious  ;  then  did  ye 
retreat,  and  turn  your  backs.  Afterwards  GOD  sent  down 
his  security  upon  his  apostle  and  upon  the  faithful,  and  .sent 
down  troops  of  angeh,  which  ye  saw  not ;  and  he  punished 
those  who  disbelieved ;  and  this  was  the  reward  of  the  unbe- 
lievers. Nevertheless  GOD  will  hereafter  be  turned  unto 
whom  he  pleaseth ;  for  GOD  is  gracious  and  merciful.  0 
true  believers,  verily  the  idolaters  are  unclean  ;  let  them  not 
therefore  come  near  unto  the  holy  temple  after  this  year. 
And  if  ye  fear  want,  by  the  cutting  off  trade  and  communica- 
tion with  them,  GOD  will  enrich  you  of  his  abundance,  if  be 
pleaseth  ;  for  GOD  is  knowing  and  wise.  Fight  against 
them  who  believe  not  in  GOD,  nor  the  last  day,  and  forbid  not 
that  which  GOD  and  his  apostle  have  forbidden,  and  profess 
not  the  true  religion,  of  those  unto  whom  the  scriptures  have 
been  delivered,  until  they  pay  tribute  by  right  of  subjection, 
and  they  be  reduced  low.  The  Jews  say,  Ezra  is  the  son  of 
GOD  :  and  the  Christians  say,  Christ  is  the  Son  of  GoD.1 
This  is  their  saying  in  their  mouths  ;  they  imitate  the  saying 
of  those  who  were  unbelievers  in  former  times.  May  GOD 
•wist  them.  How  are  they  infatuated!  They  take  their 


174  AL  KORAN. 

priests  and   their   monks   for  their  lords,  besides  Goi>,  and 
Christ  the  son  of  Mary;  although  they  are  commanded  to 
worship  one  GOD  only :  there  is  no  GOD  but  he  ;  far  be  that 
from  him  which  they  associate  with  him  !     They  seek  to  ex- 
tinguish the  light  of  GOD  with  their  mouths  ;  but  GOD  willetb 
norther  than  to  perfect  his  light,  although  the  infidels   be 
averse  thereto.     It  is  he  who  hath  sent  his  apostle  with  the 
direction,  and  true  religion :   that  he  may  cause  it  to  appeal 
superior  to  every  other  religion  ;  although  the  idolaters    be 
averse  thereto.     O  true  believers,  verily  many  of  the  priest 
and  monks  devour  the  substance  of  men  in  vanity,  and  ob 
struct  the  way  of  GOD.     But  unto  those  who  treasure  up 
gold  and  silver,  and  employ  it  not  for  the  advancement  of 
GOD'S  true  religion,  denounce  a  grievous  punishment.     On 
the  day  of  judgment  their  treasures  shall  be  intensely  heated 
in  the  fire  of  hell,  and  their  foreheads,  and  their  sides,  and 
their  backs  shall  be  stigmatized  therewith  ;  and  their  tormen- 
tors shall  say,  This  is  what  ye  have  treasured  up  for  your 
souls ;  taste  therefore  that  which  ye  have  treasured  up.    More- 
over, the  complete  number  of  months  with    GOD,  is  twelve 
months,  which  were  ordained  in  the  book  of  GOD,  on  the  day 
whereon  he  created  the  heavens  and  the  earth  :  of  these,  four 
are  sacred.     This  is  the  right  religion :  therefore   deal   not 
unjustly  with  yourselves  therein.     But  attack  the  idolaters  in 
all  the  months,  as  they  attack  you  in  all ;  and  know  that  GOD 
is  with   those  who  fear   him.     Verily  the  transferring  of  u 
tacred  month   to  another  month,  is  an  additional  infidelity. 
The  unbelievers  are  led  into  an  error  thereby :  they  allow  a 
month  to  be  violated  one  year,  and  declare  it  sacred  another 
year,  that  they  may  agree  in  the  number  of  months  which 
GOD  hath  commanded  to  be  kept  sacred  ;  and  they  allow  that 
which  GOD  hath  forbidden.     The  evil  of  their  actions  hath 
been  prepared  for  them :  for  GOD  directeth  not  the  unbeliev  - 
ing  people.     O  true  believers,  what  ailed  you,  that  when  it 
was  said  unto  you,  Go  forth  to  fight  for  the  religion  of  GOD, 
ye  inclined  heavily  towards  the  earth  ?     Do  ye  prefer  the 
present  life  to  that  which  is  to  come  ?     But  the  provision  of 
this  life,  in  respect  of  that  which  is  to  come,  is  but  slender. 
Unless  ye  go  forth  when  ye  are  summoned  to  war,  God  will 
punish  you  with  a  grievous  punishment ;  and  he  will  place 
tnother  people  in  your  stead,  and  ye  shall  not  hurt  him  at 
all ;  for  GOD  is  almighty.     If  ye  assist  not  the  prophet,  verily 


A.L  KORAN.  175 

GOD  witt  assist  him,  as  he  assisted  him  formerly,  when  the 
unbelieveis  drove  him  out  of  Mecca,  the  second  of  two 
when  they  were  both  in  the  cave  :  when  he  said  unto  his  com- 
panion, Be  not  grieved,  for  GOD  is  with  us.  And  GOD  sent 
down  his  security  upon  him,  and  strengthened  him  with 
armies  of  angels,  whom  ye  saw  not.  And  he  made  the  word 
of  those  who  believed  not  to  be  abased,  and  the  word  of  GOD 
was  exalted :  for  GOD  is  mighty  and  wise.  Go  forth  to 
battle,  both  light  and  heavy,  and  employ  your  substance  and 
your  persons  for  the  advancement  of  GOD'S  religion.  This 
will  be  better  for  you,  if  ye  know  it.  If  it  had  been  a  near 
advantage,  and  a  moderate  journey,  they  had  surely  followed 
thee  ;  but  the  way  seemed  tedious  unto  them :  and  yet  they 
will  swear  by  GOD,  saying,  If  we  had  been  able,  we  had 
surely  gone  forth  with  you.  They  destroy  their  own  souls  ; 
for  GOD  knoweth  that  they  are  liars.  GOD  forgive  thee  ! 
why  didst  thou  give  them  leave  to  stay  at  home,  until  they 
who  speak  the  truth,  when  they  excuse  themselves,  had  become 
manifested  unto  thee,  and  thou  hadst  known  the  liars  ?  They 
who  believe  in  GOD  and  the  last  day,  will  not  ask  leave  of 
thee  to  be  excused  from  employing  their  substance  and  their 
persons  for  the  advancement  of  GOD'S  true  religion ;  and 
GOD  knoweth  those  who  fear  him.  Verily  they  only  will 
ask  leave  of  thee  to  stay  behind,  who  believe  not  in  GOD  and 
the  last  day,  and  whose  hearts  doubt  concerning  the  faith  : 
wherefore  they  are  tossed  to  and  fro  in  their  doubting.  If 
they  had  been  willing  to  go  forth  with  thee,  they  had  certainly 
prepared  for  that  purpose  a  provision  of  arms  and  necessaries^ 
but  GOD  was  averse  to  their  going  forth ;  wherefore  he  ren- 
dered them  slothful,  and  it  was  said  unto  them,  Sit  ye  still 
with  those  who  sit  still.  If  they  had  gone  forth  with  you. 
they  had  only  been  a  burden  unto  you,  and  had  run  to  and 
fro  between  you,  stirring  you  up  to  sedition  ;  and  there  would 
have  been  some  among  you,  who  would  have  given  ear  unto 
them :  and  GOD  knoweth  the  wicked.  They  formerly  sought 
to  raise  a  sedition,  and  they  disturbed  thy  affairs,  until  the 
truth  came,  and  the  decree  of  GOD  was  made  manifest , 
although  they  were  adverse  thereto.  There  is  of  them  who 
saith  unto  thee,  Give  me  leave  to  stay  behind,  and  expose 
me  not  to  temptation.  Have  they  not  fallen  into  temptation 
at  home  ?  But  hell  will  surely  encompass  the  unbelievers. 
If  good  happen  unto  thee,  it  grieveth  them :  but  if  a  mis- 


176  AL  KORAN. 

fortune  befall  thee,  they  say,  We  ordered  our  business  before 
and  they  turn  their  backs,  and  rejoice  at  thy  mishap.  Say, 
Nothing  shall  befall  us,  but  what  GOD  hath  decreed  for  ua , 
he  is  our  patron  ;  and  on  GOD  let  the  faithful  trust.  Say, 
Do  ye  expect  any  other  should  befall  us,  than  one  of  the  two 
most  excellent  things  ;  either  victory  or  martyrdom  ?  But  we 
expect  concerning  you,  that  GOD  inflict  a  punishment  on  you, 
either  from  himself,  or  by  our  hands.  Wait,  therefore,  to  see 
what  mil  be  the  end  of  both  ;  for  we  will  wait  for  you.  Say, 
Expend  your  money  in  pious  uses,  either  voluntarily,  or  by 
constraint,  it  shall  not  be  accepted  of  you ;  because  ye  are 
wicked  people.  And  nothing  hindereth  their  contributions  from 
being  accepted  of  them,  but  that  they  believe  not  in  GOD  and 
his  apostle,  and  perform  not  the  duty  of  prayer,  otherwise 
than  sluggishly;  and  expend  not  their  money  for  God9! 
tervice,  otherwise  than  unwillingly.  Let  not  therefore  their 
riches,  or  their  children  cause  thee  to  marvel.  Verily  GOD 
intendeth  only  to  punish  them  by  these  things  in  this  world ; 
and  that  their  souls  may  depart  while  they  are  unbelievers. 
They  swear  by  GOD  that  they  are  of  you  ;  yet  they  are  not 
of  you,  but  are  people  who  stand  in  fear.  If  they  find  a  place 
of  refuge,  or  caves,  or  a  retreating  hole,  they  surely  turn  tow- 
ards the  same,  and  in  a  headstrong  manner,  haste  thereto. 
There  is  of  them  also  who  spreadeth  ill  reports  of  thee,  in 
relation  to  thy  distribution  of  the  alms :  yet  if  they  receive 
part  thereof,  they  are  well  pleased  ;  but  if  they  receive  not  a 
part  thereof,  behold,  they  are  angry.  But  if  they  had  been 
pleased  with  that  which  GOD  and  his  apostle  had  given  them, 
and  had  said,  GOD  is  our  support  ;  GOD  will  give  unto  us 
of  his  abundance,  and  his  prophet  also  ;  verily  unto  GOD  do 
we  make  our  supplications :  it  would  have  been  more  decent. 
Alms  are  to  be  distributed  only  unto  the  poor,  and  the  needy, 
and  those  who  are  employed  in  collecting  and  distributing  the 
same,  and  unto  those  whose  hearts  are  reconciled,  and  for  the 
redemption  of  captives,  and  unto  those  who  are  in  debt  and 
insolvent,  and  for  the  advancement  of  GOD'S  religion,  and 
unto  the  traveller.  This  is  an  ordinance  from  GOD  :  and 
GOD  is  knowing  and  wise.  There  are  some  of  them  who 
injure  the  prophet,  and  say,  He  is  an  ear.  Answer,  He  is  an 
ear  of  good  unto  you,  he  believeth  in  GOD,  and  giveth  credit 
to  the  faithful,  and  is  a  mercy  unto  such  of  you  who  believe. 
Bat  they  who  injure  the  apostle  of  GOD,  shall  suffer  a  pain- 


AL  KORAN.  177 

ful  punishment.  They  swear  unto  you  by  GOD,  that  they 
may  please  you  ;  but  it  is  more  just  that  they  should  please 
GOD  and  his  apostle,  if  they  are  true  believers.  Do  they  not 
know  that  he  who  opposeth  GOD  and  his  apostle,  shall  with- 
out doubt  be  punished  with  the  fire  of  hell ;  and  shall  remain 
therein  forever  ?  This  will  be  great  ignominy.  The  hyp- 
ocrites are  apprehensive  lest  a  Sura  should  be  revealed 
concerning  them,  to  declare  unto  them  that  which  is  in  their 
hearts.  Say  unto  them,  Scoff  ye ;  but  GOD  will  surely  bring 
to  light  that  which  ye  fear  should  be  discovered.  And  if  thou 
ask  them  the  reason  of  this  scoffing,  they  say,  Verily  we  were 
only  engaged  in  discourse ;  and  jesting  among  ourselves.  Say, 
Do  ye  scoff  at  GOD  and  his  signs,  and  at  his  apostle  ?  offer 
not  an  excuse :  now  are  ye  become  infidels,  after  your  faith. 
If  we  forgive  a  part  of  you,  we  will  punish  a  part,  for  that 
they  have  been  wicked  doers.  Hypocritical  men  and  women 
are  the  one  of  them  of  the  other :  they  command  that  which 
is  evil,  and  forbid  that  which  is  just,  and  shut  their  hands 
from  giving  alms.  They  have  forgotten  GOD  ;  wherefore  he 
hath  forgotten  them  :  verily  the  hypocrites  are  those  who  act 
wickedly.  GOD  denounceth  unto  the  hypocrites,  both  men 
and  women,  and  to  the  unbelievers,  the  fire  of  hell ;  they  shaii 
remain  therein  forever :  this  will  be  their  sufficient  reward; 
GOD  hath  cursed  them,  and  they  shall  endure  a  lasting  tor- 
ment. As  they  who  have  been  before  you,  so  are  ye.  They 
were  superior  to  you  in  strength,  and  had  more  abundance  of 
wealth  and  of  children ;  and  they  enjoyed  their  portion  in 
this  world,-  and  ye  also  enjoy  your  portion  here,  as  they  who 
have  preceded  you  enjoyed  their  portion.  And  ye  engage 
yourselves  in  vain  discourses,  like  unto  those  wherein  they 
engaged  themselves.  The  works  of  these  are  vain  both  in 
this  world  and  in  that  which  is  to  come ;  and  these  are  they 
who  perish.  Have  they  not  been  acquainted  with  the  history 
of  those  who  have  been  before  them  ?  of  the  people  of  Noah, 
and  of  Ad,  and  of  Thamud,  and  of  the  people  of  Abraham, 
and  of  the  inhabitants  of  Madian,  and  of  the  cities  which  were 
overthrown?  Their  apostles  came  unto  them  with  evident 
demonstrations :  and  GOD  was  not  disposed  to  treat  them  un- 
justly ;  but  they  dealt  unjustly  with  their  own  souls.  And 
the  faithful  men,  and  the  faithful  women,  are  friends  one  to 
another :  they  command  that  which  is  just,  and  they  forbid 
hat  which  is  evil ;  and  they  are  constant  at  prayer,  and  pay 
12 


178  AL  KORAN. 

their  appointed  alms  ;  and  they  obey  GOD  and  his  apostle 
unto  these  will  GOD  be  merciful;  for  he  is  mighty  and  wise. 
GOD  promiseth  unto  the  true  believers,  both  men  and  women, 
gardens  through  which  rivers  flow,  wherein  they  shall  remain 
forever ;  and  delicious  dwellings  in  the  gardens  of  perpetual 
abode :  but  good-will  from  GOD  shall  be  their  most  excellent 
reward.  This  will  be  great  felicity.  0  prophet,  wage  war 
against  the  unbelievers  and  the  hypocrites,  and  be  severe 
unto  them :  for  their  dwelling  shall  be  hell ;  an  unhappy 
journey  shall  it  be  thither!  They  swear  by  GOD  that  they 
said  not  what  they  are  charged  with  :  yet  they  spake  the  word 
of  infidelity,  and  became  unbelievers  after  they  had  embraced 
Islam.  And  they  designed  that  which  they  could  not  effect ; 
and  they  did  not  disapprove  the  design  for  any  other  reason 
than  because  GOD  and  bis  apostle  had  enriched  them  of  his 
bounty.  If  they  repent,  it  will  be  better  for  them ;  but  if  they 
relapse,  GOD  will  punish  them  with  a  grievous  torment,  in 
this  world  and  in  the  next ;  and  they  shall  have  no  portion  on 
earth,  nor  any  protector.  There  are  some  of  them  who  made 
a  covenant  with  GOD,  saying,  Verily  if  he  give  us  of  hia 
abundance,  we  will  give  alms,  and  become  righteous  people. 
Yet  when  they  had  given  unto  him  of  his  abundance,  they 
became  covetous  thereof,  and  turned  back,  and  retired  afar 
off.  Wherefore  he  hath  caused  hypocrisy  to  succeed  in  their 
hearts,  until  the  day  whereon  they  shall  meet  him ;  for  that 
they  failed  to  perform  unto  GOD  that  which  they  had  prom- 
ised him,  and  for  that  they  prevaricated.  Do  they  not  know 
that  GOD  knoweth  whatever  they  conceal,  and  their  private 
discourses ;  and  that  GOD  is  the  knower  of  secrets  ?  They 
who  traduce  such  of  the  believers  as  are  liberal  in  giving 
alms  beyond  what  they  are  obliged,  and  those  who  find 
nothing  to  give,  but  what  they  gain  by  their  industry ;  and 
therefore  scoff  at  them:  GOD  shall  scoff  at  them,  and 
they  shall  suffer  a  grievous  punishment.  Ask  forgiveness 
for  them,  or  do  not  ask  forgiveness  for  them;  it  will  be 
equal.  If  thou  ask  forgiveness  for  them  seventy  times, 
GOD  will  by  no  means  forgive  them.  This  is  the  divine 
pleasure,  for  that  they  believe  not  in'  GOD,  and  his  apostle ; 
and  GOD  directeth  not  the  ungodly  people.  They  who  were 
left  at  home  in  the  expedition  of  Tabuc,  were  glad  of  their 
staying  behind  the  apostle  of  GOD,  and  were  unwilling  to 
employ  their  substance  and  their  persons  for  the  advancement 


AL  KORAN.  179 

of  GOD'S  true  religion ;  and  they  said,  Go  not  forth  in  the  heat 
Say,  the  fire  of  hell  will  be  hotter ;  if  they  understood  this 
Wherefore  let  them  laugh  little,  and  weep  much,  as  a  reward 
for  that  which  they  have  done.  If  GOD  bring  thee  back  unto 
some  of  them,  and  they  ask  thee  leave  to  go  forth  to  war  with 
thee,  say,  Ye  shall  not  go  forth  with  me  for  the  future,  neither 
ehall  ye  fight  an  enemy  with  me  ;  ye  were  pleased  with  sitting 
at  home  the  first  time ;  sit  ye  at  home  therefore  with  those 
who  stay  behind.  Neither  do  thou  ever  pray  over  any  of 
them  who  shall  die,  neither  stand  at  his  grave  for  that  they 
believed  not  in  GOD  and  his  apostle,  and  die  in  their  wicked- 
ness. Let  not  their  riches  or  their  children  cause  thee  to 
marvel :  for  GOD  intendeth  only  to  punish  them  therewith  in 
this  world,  and  that  their  souls  may  depart,  while  they  are 
infidels.  When  a  Sura  is  sent  down,  wherein  it  is  said,  Be- 
lieve in  GOD,  and  go  forth  to  war  with  his  apostle ;  those  who 
are  in  plentiful  circumstances  among  them  ask  leave  of  thee 
to  stay  behind,  and  say,  Suffer  us  to  be  of  the  number  of  those 
who  sit  at  home.  They  are  well  pleased  to  be  with  those  who 
stay  behind,  and  their  hearts  are  sealed  up ;  wherefore  they 
do  not  understand.  But  the  apostle,  and  those  who  have  be- 
lieved with  him,  expose  their  fortunes  and  their  lives  for 
God  s  service  ;  they  shall  enjoy  the  good  things  of  either  life, 
and  they  shall  be  happy.  GOD  hath  prepared  for  them 
gardens  through  which  rivers  flow ;  they  shall  remain  therein 
forever.  This  will  be  great  felicity.  And  certain  Arabs  of 
',he  desert  came  to  excuse  themselves, praying  that  they  might 
be  permitted  to  stay  behind  ;  and  they  sat  at  home  who  had 
renounced  GOD  and  his  apostle.  But  a  painful  punishment 
shall  be  inflicted  on  such  of  them  as  believe  not.  In  those 
who  are  weak,  or  are  afflicted  with  sickness,  or  in  those  who 
find  not  wherewith  to  contribute  to  the  war,  it  shall  be  no 
crime  if  they  stay  at  home  ;  provided  they  behave  themselves 
faithfully  towards  GOD  and  his  apostle.  There  is  no  room  to 
lay  blame  on  the  righteous ;  for  GOD  is  gracious  and  merciful : 
nor  on  those,  unto  whom,  when  they  came  unto  thee,  request- 
ing that  thou  wouldest  supply  them  with  necessaries  for 
travelling,  thou  didst  answer,  I  find  not  wherewith  to  supply 
you,  returned,  their  eyes  shedding  tears  for  grief,  that  they 
found  not  wherewith  to  contribute  to  the  expedition.  But 
there'  is  reason  to  blame  those  who  ask  leave  of  thee  to  sit  at 
home,  when  they  are  rich.  They  are  pleased  to  be  with  those 


180  AL  KORA3T. 

who  stay  behind,  and  GOD  hath  sealed  up  their  hearts 
wherefore  they  do  not  understand.  They  will  excuse  them- 
selves unto  you,  when  ye  are  returned  unto  them.  Say,  Ex- 
cuse  not  yourselves  ;  we  will  by  no  means  believe  you :  GOD 
hath  acquainted  us  with  your  behavior;  and  GOD  will  ob- 
serve his  actions,  and  his  apostle  also :  and  hereafter  shall  ye 
be  brought  before  him  who  knoweth  that  which  is  hidden, 
and  that  which  is  manifest ;  and  he  will  declare  unto  you  that 
which  ye  have  done.  They  will  swear  unto  you  by  GOD, 
when  ye  are  returned  unto  them,  that  ye  may  let  them  alone. 
Let  them  alone,  therefore,  for  they  are  an  abomination,  and 
their  dwelling  shall  be  hell,  a  reward  for  that  which  they 
have  deserved.  They  will  swear  unto  you,  that  ye  may 
be  well  pleased  with  them ;  but  if  ye  be  well  pleased 
with  them,  verily  GOD  will  not  be  well  pleased  with  peo- 
ple who  prevaricate.  The  Arabs  of  the  desert  are  more 
obstinate  in  their  unbelief  and  hypocrisy ;  and  it  is  easier  for 
them  to  be  ignorant  of  the  ordinances  of  that  which  GOD 
hath  sent  down  unto  his  apostle ;  and  GOD  is  knowing  and 
wise.  Of  the  Arabs  of  the  desert  there  is  who  reckoneth 
that  which  he  expendeth  for  the  service  of  God,  to  be  as 
tribute,  and  waiteth  that  some  change  of  fortune  may  befall 
you.  A  change  for  evil  shall  happen  unto  them ;  for  GOD 
both  heareth  and  knoweth.  And  of  the  Arabs  of  the  desert 
there  is  who  belie veth  in  GOD,  and  in  the  last  day ;  and 
esteemeth  that  which  he  layeth  out  for  the  service  of  God  to 
be  the  means  of  bringing  him  near  unto  GOD,  and  the  prayers 
of  the  aposile.  Is  it  not  unto  them  the  means  of  a  near  ap- 
proach ?  GOD  shall  lead  them  into  his  mercy ;  for  GOD  is 
gracious  and  merciful.  As  for  the  leaders  and  the  first  of 
the  Mohajerin,  and  the  Ansars,  and  those  who  have  followed 
them  in  well  doing ;  GOD  is  well  pleased  with  them,  and  they 
are  well  pleased  in  him:  and  he  hath  prepared  for  them 
gardens  watered  by  rivers  ;  they  shall  remain  therein  forever. 
This  shall  be  great  felicity.  And  of  the  Arabs  of  the  desert 
who  dwell  round  about  you,  there  are  hypocritical  persons : 
and  of  the  inhabitants  of  Medina  there  are  some  who  are 
obstinate  in  hypocrisy.  Thou  knowest  them  not,  0  prophet, 
but  we  know  them  :  we  will  surely  punish  them  twice  :  after- 
wards shall  they  be  sent  to  a  grievous  torment  And  others 
have  acknowledged  their  crimes.  They  have  mixed  a  good 
action  with  another  which  is  bad  :  peradventure  GOD  will 


AL  KORAN.  Iftl 

be  turned  unto  them;  for  GOD  is  gracious  and  merciful 
Take  alms  of  their  substance,  that  thou  mayest  cleanse  them, 
and  purify  them  thereby  ;  and  pray  for  them  :  for  thy  prayeri 
shall  be  a  security  of  mind  unto  them ;  and  GOD  both  heareth 
and  knoweth.  Do  they  not  know  that  GOD  accepteth  repen- 
tance from  his  servants,  and  accepteth  alms ;  and  that  GOD 
is  easy  to  be  reconciled,  and  merciful  ?  Say  unto  them,  "Work 
as  ye  will ;  but  GOD  will  behold  your  work,  and  his  apostle 
also,  and  the  true  believers :  and  ye  shall  be  brought  before 
him  who  knoweth  that  which  is  kept  secret,  and  that  which  is 
made  public  :  and  he  will  declare  unto  you  whatever  ye  have 
done.  And  there  are  others  who  wait  with  suspense  the  de- 
cree of  GOD  :  whether  he  will  punish  them,  or  whether  he 
will  be  turned  unto  them :  but  GOD  is  knowing  and  wise, 
There  are  some  who  have  built  a  temple  to  hurt  -the  faithful, 
and  to  propagate  infidelity,  and  to  foment  division  among  the 
true  believers,  and  for  a  lurking  place  for  him  who  hath  fought 
against  GOD  and  his  apostle  in  time  past;  and  they  swear, 
saying,  Verily  we  intended  no  other  than  to  do  for  the  best : 
but  GOD  is  witness  that  they  do  certainly  lie.  Stand  not  up 
to  pray  therein  forever.  There  is  a  temple  founded  on  piety, 
from  the  first  day  of  its  building.  It  is  more  just  that  thou 
stand  up  to  pray  therein :  therein  are  men  who  love  to  be 
purified ;  for  GOD  loveth  the  clean.  Whether  therefore  is 
he  better,  who  hath  founded  his  building  on  the  fear  of  GOD 
and  his  good  will ;  or  he  who  hath  founded  his  building  on 
the  brink  of  a  bank  of  earth  which  is  washed  away  by  waters, 
so  that  it  falleth  with  him  into  the  fire  of  hell  ?  God  directeth 
not  the  ungodly  people.  Their  building  which  they  have 
built  will  not  cease  to  be  an  occasion  of  doubting  in  their  hearts, 
until  their  hearts  be  cut  in  pieces ;  and  GOD  is  knowing  and 
wise.  Verily  GOD  hath  purchased  of  the  true  believers  their 
souls,  and  their  substance,  promising  them  the  enjoyment  of 
paradise ;  on  condition  that  they  fight  for  the  cause  of  GOD  • 
whether  they  slay  or  be  slain,  the  promise  for  the  same  is  as- 
suredly due  by  the  law,  and  the  gospel,  and  the  Koran.  And 
who  performeth  his  contract  more  faithfully  than  GOD  ?  Re- 
jo\ce  therefore  in  the  contract  which  ye  have  made.  This 
shall  be  great  happiness.  The  penitent,  and  those  who  serve 
God,  and  praise  him,  and  who  fast,  and  bow  down,  and  wor- 
ship ;  and  who  command  that  which  is  juat,  and  forbid  that 
which  is  evil,  and  keep  the  ordinances  of  GOD,  shall  likewise 


182  AL  KORAN. 

W  rewarded  with  paradise :  wherefore  bear  good  tidings  unto 
he  faithful.  It  is  not  allowed  unto  the  prophet,  nor  those 
rho  are  true  believers,  that  they  pray  for  idolaters,  although 
they  be  of  kin,  after  it  is  become  known  unto  them,  that  they 
we  inhabitants  of  hell.  Neither  did  Abraham  ask  forgive- 
ness for  his  father,  otherwise  than  in  pursuance  of  a  promise 
which  he  had  promised  unto  him :  but  when  it  became  known 
unto  him,  that  he  was  an  enemy  unto  GOD,  he  declared  him 
self  clear  of  him.  Verily  Abraham  was  pitiful  and  compas- 
sionate. Nor  is  GOD  disposed  to  lead  people  into  error,  after 
lhat  he  hath  directed  them,  until  that  which  they  ought  to 
avoid  is  become  known  unto  them ;  for  GOD  knoweth  all 
things.  Verily  unto  GOD  belongeth  the  kingdom  of  heaven 
and  of  earth ;  he  giveth  life,  and  he  causeth  to  die ;  and  ye 
have  no  patron  or  helper  besides  GOD.  GOD  is  reconciled 
unto  the  prophet,  and  unto  the  Mohajerin  and  the  Ansars, 
who  followed  him  in  the  hour  of  distress,  after  that  it  had 
wanted  little  but  that  the  hearts  of  a  part  of  them  had  swerved 
from  their  duty :  afterwards  was  he  turned  unto  them :  for 
he  was  compassionate  and  merciful  towards  them.  And  he 
it  also  reconciled  unto  the  three  who  were  left  behind,  so  that 
the  earth  became  too  straight  for  them,  notwithstanding  its 
spaciousness,  and  their  souls  became  straightened  within  them, 
and  they  considered  that  there  was  no  refuge  from  GOD, 
otherwise  than  by  having  recourse  unto  him.  Then  was  he 
turned  unto  them,  that  they  might  repent ;  for  GOD  is  easy 
to  be  reconciled  and  merciful.  O  true  believers,  fear  GOD 
and  be  with  the  sincere.  There  was  no  reason  why  the  in- 
habitants of  Medina,  and  the  Arabs  of  the  desert  who  dwell 
around  them,  should  stay  behind  the  apostle  of  GOD,  or  should 
prefer  themselves  before  him.  This  is  unreasonable:  be- 
cause they  are  not  distressed  either  by  thirst,  or  labor,  or 
hunger,  for  the  defence  of  GOD'S  true  religion ;  neither  do 
they  stir  a  step,  which  may  irritate  the  unbelievers ;  neither 
do  they  receive  from  the  enemy  any  damage,  but  a  good  work 
is  written  down  unto  them  for  the  same ;  for  GOD  suffereth 
not  the  reward  of  the  righteous  to  perish.  And  they  contrib- 
ute not  any  sum  either  small  or  great,  nor  do  they  pass  a 
valley ;  but  it  is  written  down  unto  them  that  GOD  may  re- 
gard them  with  a  recompense  exceeding  that  which  they  have 
wrought.  The  believers  are  not  obliged  to  go  forth  to  war 
altogether :  if  a  part  of  every  band  of  them  go  not  forth,  it 


AL  KORAN.  188 

it  that  they  may  diligently  instruct  themselves  in  their  relig- 
ion ;  and  may  admonish  their  people,  when  they  return  unto 
them,  that  they  may  take  heed  to  themselves.  0  true  be- 
lievers, wage  war  against  such  of  the  infidels  as  are  near 
you  ;  and  let  them  find  severity  in  you :  and  know  that  GOD 
is  with  those  who  fear  him.  Whenevej  a  Sura  is  sent  down, 
there  are  some  of  them  who  say,  Which  of  you  hath  this 
caused  to  increase  in  faith  ?  It  will  increase  the  faith  of 
those  who  believe,  and  they  shall  rejoice :  but  unto  those  in 
whose  hearts  there  is  an  infirmity,  it  will  add  further  doubt 
unto  their  present  doubt ;  and  they  shall  die  in  their  infidelity. 
Do  they  not  see  that  they  are  tried  every  year  once  or  twice  ? 
yet  they  repent  not,  neither  are  they  warned.  And  when- 
ever a  Sura  is  sent  down,  they  look  at  one  another,  saytng, 
Doth  any  one  see  you  ?  then  do  they  turn  aside.  GOD  shall 
turn  aside  their  hearts  from  the  truth ;  because  they  are  a 
people  who  do  not  understand.  Now  hath  an  apostle  come 
unto  you  of  our  own  nation,  an  excellent  person :  it  is  griev- 
ous unto  him  that  ye  commit  wickedness  ;  he  is  careful  over 
you,  and  compassionate  and  merciful-  towards  the  believers. 
If  they  turn  back,  say,  GOD  is  my  support :  there  is  no  GOD 
but  he.  On  him  do  I  trust ;  and  he  is  the  LORD  of  the  mag- 
nificent throne. 


CHAPTER  X.     . 
INTITLED,  JONAS;  REVEALED  AT  MECCA. 

IK    THB    NAME    Or   THB    MOST    MERCIFUL   GOD. 

AL.  R.  These  are  the  signs  of  the  wise  book.  la  It  a 
strange  thing  unto  the  men  of  Mecca,  that  we  have  revealed 
om  will  unto  a  man  from  among  them,  saying,  Denounce 
threats  unto  men  if  they  believe  not ;  and  bear  good  tidings 
unto  those  who  believe,  that  on  the  merit  of  their  sincerity 
they  have  an  interest  with  their  LORD  ?  The  unbelievers  say, 
This  is  manifest  sorcery.  Verily  your  LORD  is  GOD,  who 
hath  created  the  heavens  and  the  earth  in  six  days ;  and  .hen 
ascended  his  throne,  to  take  on  himself  the  government  tf  aU 
things.  There  is  no  intercessor,  but  by  his  permission.  This 
Is  GOD,  your  LORD  ;  therefore  serve  him.  Will  ye  not  con- 
sider ?  Unto  him  shall  ye  all  return  according  to  the  certain 


184  AX  KORAN. 

promise  of  GOD  ;  for  he  produceth  a  creature,  and  then 
causeth  it  to  return  again ;  that  he  may  reward  those  who 
believe  and  do  that  which  is  right,  with  equity.  But  as  for 
the  unbelievers,  they  shall  drink  boiling  water,  and  they  shall 
suffer  a  grievous  punishment,  for  that  they  have  disbelieved. 
It  is  he  who  hath  ordained  the  sun  to  shine  by  day,  and  the 
moon  for  a  light  by  night ;  and  had  appointed  her  stations, 
that  ye  might  know  the  number  of  years,  and  the  computa- 
tion of  time.  GOD  hath  not  created  this,  but  with  truth.  He 
explaineth  his  signs  unto  people  who  understand.  Moreover 
in  the  vicissitudes  of  night  and  day,  and  whatever  GOD  hath 
created  in  heaven  and  earth,  are  surely  signs  unto  men  who 
fear  him.  Verily  they  who  hope  not  to  meet  us  at  the  last 
day,  and  delight  in  this  present  life,  and  rest  securely  in  the 
same,  and  who  are  negligent  of  our  signs ;  their  dwelling 
shall  be  hell  fire,  for  that  which  they  have  deserved.  But  as 
to  those  who  believe,  and  work  righteousness,  their  LORD 
will  direct  them  because  of  their  faith  ;  they  shall  have  rivers 
flowing  through  gardens  of  pleasure.  Their  prayer  therein 
shall  be  Praise  be  unto  thee  0  GOD  !  and  their  salutation  there- 
in shall  be  Peace  I  and  the  end  of  their  prayer  shall  be,  Praise 
be  unto  GOD,  the  LORD  of  all  creatures !  If  GOD  should 
cause  evil  to  hasten  unto  men,  according  to  their  desire  of 
hastening  good,  verily  their  end  had  been  decreed.  Where- 
fore we  suffer  those  who  hope  not  to  meet  us  at  the  resurrec- 
tion, to  wander  amazedly  in  their  error.  When  evil  befalleth 
a  man,  he  prayeth  unto  us  lying  on  his  side,  or  sitting,  or 
standing  :  but  when  we  deliver  him  from  his  affliction,  he  con- 
tinueth  his  former  course  of  life,  as  though  he  had  not  called 
upon  us  to  defend  him  against  the  evil  which  had  befallen 
him.  Thus  was  that  which  the  transgressors  committed  pre- 
pared for  them.  We  have  formerly  destroyed  the  genera- 
tions who  were  before  you,  0  men  of  Mecca,  when  they  had 
acted  unjustly,  and  our  apostles  had  come  unto  them  with 
evident  miracles  and  they  would  not  believe.  Thus  do  we 
reward  the  wicked  people.  Afterwards  did  we  cause  you  to 
succeed  them  in  the  earth  ;  that  we  might  see  how  ye  would 
net  When  our  evident  signs  are  recited  unto  them,  they  who 
hope  not  to  meet  us  at  the  resurrection,  say,  Bring  a  different 
Koran  from  this ;  or  make  some  change  therein.  Answer. 
It  is  not  Jit  for  me,  that  I  should  change  it  at  my  pleasure  • 
I  follow  that  only  which  is  revealed  unto  me.  Verily  I  fear 


AL  KORAN.  185 

If  I  should  be  disobedient  unto  my  LORD,  the  punishment  of 
the  great  day.  Say,  If  GOD  had  so  pleased,  I  had  not  read 
it  unto  you,  neither  had  I  taught  you  the  same.  I  have 
already  dwelt  among  you  to  the  age  of  forty  years,  before  1 
received  it.  Do  ye  not  therefore  understand  ?  And  who  is 
more  unjust  than  he  who  deviseth  a  lie  against  GOD.  or  ac- 
cuseth  his  signs  of  falsehood  ?  Surely  the  wicked  shall  not 
prosper.  They  worship  besides  GOD,  that  which  can  neither 
hurt  them  or  profit  them,  and  they  say,  These  are  our  inter- 
cessors with  GOD.  Answer,  Will  ye  tell  GOD  that  which  he 
knoweth  not,  neither  in  heaven  nor  in  earth  ?  Praise  be 
unto  him !  and  far  be  that  from  him,  which  they  associate 
with  him !  Men  were  professors  of  one  religion  only,  but 
they  dissented  therefrom  ;  and  if  a  decree  had  not  previously 
issued  from  thy  LOKD,  deferring  their  punishment,  verily  the 
natter  had  been  decided  between  them,  concerning  which  they 
disagreed.  They  say,  Unless  a  sign  be  sent  down  unto  him 
from  his  LORD,  we  will  not  believe.  Answer,  Verily  that 
which  is  hidden  is  known  only  unto  GOD  :  wait,  therefore, 
the  pleasure  of  God;  and  I  also  will  wait  with  you.  And 
when  we  caused  the  men  of  Mecca  to  taste  mercy,  after  an 
affliction  which  had  befallen  them,  behold,  they  devised  a 
stratagem  against  our  signs.  Say  unto  them,  GOD  is  more 
swift  in  executing  a  stratagem,  than  ye.  Verily  our  messengers 
write  down  that  which  ye  deceitfully  devise.  It  is  he  who 
hath  given  you  conveniences  for  travelling  by  land  and  by 
sea ;  so  that  ye  be  in  ships,  which  sail  with  them,  with  a  fa- 
vorable wind,  and  they  rejoice  therein.  And  when  a  tem- 
pestuous wind  overtaketh  them,  and  waves  come  upon  them 
from  every  side,  and  they  think  themselves  encompassed  with 
inevitable  dangers  ;  they  call  upon  GOD,  exhibiting  the  pure 
religion  unto  him,  and  saying,  Verily  if  thou  deliver  us  from 
this  peril,  we  will  be  of  those  who  give  thanks.  But  when 
he  hath  delivered  them,  behold,  they  behave  themselves  in- 
solently in  the  earth,  without  justice.  O  men,  verily  the 
violence  which  ye  commit  against  your  own  souls,  is  for  the 
enjoyment  of  this  present  life  only ;  afterwards  unto  us  shall 
ye  return,  and  we  will  declare  unto  you  that  which  ye  have 
done.  Verily  the  likeness  of  this  present  life  is  no  other  than 
as  water,  which  we  send  down  from  heaven,  and  wherewith 
the  productions  of  the  earth  are  mixed,  of  which  men  eat, 
»nd  cattle  also,  until  the  earth  receive  its  vesture,  and  be 


186  AL   KORAN. 

adorned  with  various  plants :  the  inhabitants  thereof  imagine 
that  they  have  power  over  the  same ;  but  our  command  cometh 
unto  it  by  night,  or  by  day,  and  we  render  it  as  though  it  had 
been  mowen,  as  though  it  had  not  yesterday  abounded  with 
fruits.     Thus  do  we  explain  our  signs  unto  people  who  con- 
sider.    GOD  inviteth  unto  the  dwelling  of  peace,  and  directelh 
whom  he  pleaseth  into  the  right  way.     They  who  do  right 
shall  receive  a  most  excellent  reward,  and  a  superabundant 
addition  ;  neither  blackness  nor  shame  shall  cover  their  faces. 
These  shall  be  the  inhabitants  of  paradise ;  they  shall  con- 
tinue therein  forever.     But  they  who  commit  evil  shall  re- 
ceive the  reward  of  evil,  equal  thereunto,  and  they  shall  be 
covered  with  shame,  (for  they  shall  have  no  protector  against 
GOD)  ;  as  though  their  faces  were  covered  with  the  profound 
darkness  of  the  night.     These  shall  be   the  inhabitants  of 
hett  fire :  they  shall  remain  therein  forever.     On  the  day  of 
the  resurrection  we  will  gather  them  altogether  ;  then  will  we 
say  unto  the  idolaters,  Get  ye  to  your  place,  ye  and  your  cojn- 
panions :  and  we  will  separate  them  from  one  another ;  and 
their  companions  will  say  unto  them,  Ye  do  not  worship  us ;  and 
GOD  is  a  sufficient  witness  between  us  and  you  ;  neither  did 
we  mind  your  worshipping  of  us.     There  shall  every  soul 
experience  that  which  it  shall  have  sent  before  it ;  and  they 
shall  be   brought  before  GOD  their  true  LORD  ;   and   the 
false  deities  which  they  vainly  imagined,  shall  disappear  from 
before  them.      Say,  Who  provideth  you  food  from  heaven 
and  earth  ?  or  who  hath  the  absolute  power  over  the  hearing 
and  the  sight  ?  and  who  bringeth  forth  the  living  from  the 
dead,  and  bringeth  ibrth  the  dead  from  the  living  ?  and  who 
governeth  all  things  ?     They  will  surely  answer,  GOD.    Say, 
Will  ye  not  therefore  fear  him  ?     This  is  therefore  Gou  your 
true    LOED  :  and  what  remaineth   there  after   truth,  except 
error  ?     How  therefore  are  ye  turned  aside  from  the  truth  f 
Thus  is  the  word  of  thy  LORD  verified  upon  them  who  do 
wickedly ;  that  they  believe  not.     Say,  Is  there  any  of  your 
companions  who  produceth  a  creature,  and  then  causeth  it  to 
return  unto  himself  ?     Say,  GOD  produceth  a  creature,  and 
then  causeth  it  to  return  unto  himself.     How  therefore  are 
ye  turned  aside  from  his  worship  ?     Say,  Is  there  any  of 
your   companions    who    directeth    unto    the    truth.       Say, 
GOD  directeth  unto  the  truth.      Whether  is  he,  therefore, 
who  directeth  unto  the  truth,  more  worthy  to  be  followed  ,• 


AL  KORAN.  187 

or  he  who  directeth  not,  unless  he  be  directed  ?  What 
aileth  you  therefore,  that  ye  judge  as  ye  do?  And  the 
greater  part  of  them  follow  an  uncertain  opinion  only ;  but  a 
mere  opinion  attaineth  not  unto  any  truth.  Verily  GOD 
knoweth  that  which  they  do.  This  Koran  could  not  have 
been  composed  by  any  except  GOD  ;  but  it  is  a  confirmation 
of  that  which  was  revealed  before  it,  and  an  explanation  of 
the  scripture  ;  there  is  no  doubt  thereof ;  sent  down  from  the 
LORD  of  all  creatures.  Will  they  say,  Mohammed  hath  forged 
it?  Answer,  Bring  therefore  a  chapter  like  unto  it ;  and  call 
whom  you  may  to  your  assistance,  besides  GOD,  if  ye  speak 
truth.  But  they  have  charged  that  with  falsehood,  the 
knowledge  whereof  they  do  not  comprehend,  neither  hath  the 
interpretation  thereof  come  unto  them.  In  the  same  manner 
did  those  who  were  before  them  accuse  their  prophets  of  im- 
posture ;  but  behold,  what  was  the  end  of  the  unjust !  There 
are  some  of  them  who  believe  therein ;  'and  there  are  some 
of  them  who  believe  not  therein :  and  thy  LORD  well 
knoweth  the  corrupt  doers.  If  they  accuse  thee  of  im- 
posture, say,  I  have  my  work,  and  ye  have  your  work ;  ye 
shall  be  clear  of  that  which  I  do,  and  I  will  be  clear  of  that 
which  ye  do.  There  are  some  of  them  who  hearken  unto 
thee  ;  but  wilt  thou  make  the  deaf  to  hear,  although  they  do 
not  understand?  And  there  are  some  of  them  who  look  at 
thee  ;  but  wilt  thou  direct  the  blind,  although  they  see  not? 
Verily  GOD  will  not  deal  unjustly  with  men  in  any  respect : 
but  men  deal  unjustly  with  their  own  souls.  On  a  certain 
day  he  will  gather  them  together,  as  though  they  had  not 
tarried  above  an  hour  of  a  day :  they  shall  know  one  another. 
Then  shal".  they  perish  who  have  denied  the  meeting  of  GOD  ; 
and  were  :iot  rightly  directed.  Whether  we  cause  thee  to 
eee  a  part  >f  the  punishment  wherewith  we  have  threatened 
then,  or  whether  we  cause  thee  to  die  before  thou  see  it ;  unto 
us  shall  they  return  :  then  shall  GOD  be  witness  of  that  which 
they  do.  Unto  every  nation  hath  an  apostle  been  sent ;  and 
when  their  apostle  came,  the  matter  was  decided  between 
them  with  equity  ;  and  they  were  not  treated  unjustly.  The 
unbelievers  say,  When  will  this  threatening  be  made  good,  if 
ye  speak  truth  ?  Answer,  I  am  able  neither  to  procure  ad 
vantage  unto  myself,  nor  to  avert  mischief  from  me,  but  a* 
GOD  pleaseth.  Unto  every  nation  is  a  fixed  term  decreed 
when  their  term  therefore  is  expired,  they  shall  not  U«v- 


188  AL  KOIUN. 

respite  for  an  hour,  neither  shall  their  punishment  be  antici- 
pated.  Say,  Tell  me,  if  the  punishment  of  GOD  overtak* 
you  by  night,  or  by  day,  what  part  thereof  will  the  ungodly 
wish  to  be  hastened  ?  When  it  falleth  on  you,  do  ye  then 
Believe  it  ?  Now  do  ye  believe,  and  wish  it  far  from^  you, 
when  as  ye  formerly  desired  it  should  be  hastened  ?  Then 
shall  it  be  said  unto  the  wicked,  Taste  the  punishment  of 
eternity;  would  ye  receive  other  than  the  reward  of  that 
whi  ;h  ye  have  wrought  ?  They  will  desire  to  know  of  thee, 
whether  this  be  true.  Answer,  Yea,  by  my  LORD,  it  is  cer- 
tainly true ;  neither  shall  ye  weaken  God's  power  so  as  to 
escape  it.  Verily,  if  every  soul  which  hath  acted  wickedly 
had  whatever  is  on  the  earth,  it  would  willingly  redeem  itself 
therewith  at  the  last  day.  Yet  they  will  conceal  their  repent- 
ance, after  they  shall  have  seen  the  punishment ;  and  the 
matter  shall  be  decided  betwen  them  with  equity,  and  they 
shall  not  be  unjustly  treated.  Doth  not  whatsoever  is  in 
heaven  and  on  earth  belong  unto  GOD  ?  Is  not  the  promise 
of  GOD  true  ?  But  the  greater  part  of  them  know  it  not. 
He  giveth  life,  and  he  causeth  to  die :  and  unto  him  shall  ye 
all  return.  O  men,  now  hath  an  admonition  come  unto  you 
from  your  LORD,  and  a  remedy  for  the  doubts  which  are  in 
your  breasts ;  and  a  direction,  and  mercy  unto  the  true  believ- 
ers. Say,  Through  the  grace  of  GOD,  and  his  mercy  ;  therein 
therefore  let  them  rejoice ;  this  will  be  better  than  what  they 
heap  together  of  worldly  riches.  Say,  Tell  me  ;  of  that  which 
GOD  hath  sent  down  unto  you  for  food,  have  ye  declared 
part  to  be  lawful,  and  other  part  to  be  unlawful  ?  Say,  Hath 
GOD  permitted  you  to  make  this  distinction?  or  do  ye  devise 
a  lie  concerning  GOD  ?  But  what  will  be  the  opinion  of 
those  who  devise  a  lie  concerning  GOD,  on  the  day  of  the 
resurrection  ?  Verily  GOD  is  endued  with  beneficence  tow- 
ards mankind ;  but  the  greater  part  of  them  do  not  give 
thanks.  Thou  shalt  be  engaged  in  no  business,  neither  shalt 
thou  be  employed  in  meditating  on  any  passage  of  the  Koran  ; 
nor  shall  ye  do  any  action,  but  we  will  be  witnesses  over  you, 
when  ye  are  employed  therein.  Nor  is  so  much  as  the 
weight  of  an  ant  hidden  from  thy  LORD,  in  earth  or  in 
heaven  :  neither  is  there  anything  lesser  than  that,  or  g'reater, 
but  it  is  written  in  the  perspicuous  book.  Are  not  the  friends 
of  GOD  the  persons  on  whom  no  fear  shall  come,  and  who 
ihall  not  be  grieved?  They  whc  believe  and  fear  God  shal] 


AL  KORAN.  189 

receive  good  tidings  in  this  life,  and  in  that  which  is  to  come. 
There  is  no  change  in  the  words  of  GOD.  This  shall  be  great 
felicity.  Let  not  their  discourse  grieve  thee ;  for  all  might 
belongeth  unto  GOD  :  he  both  heareth  and  knoweth.  Is  not 
whoever  dwelleth  in  heaven  and  on  earth  subject  unto  GOD  ? 
What  therefore  do  they  follow,  who  invoke  idols,  besides 
GOD  ?  They  follow  nothing  but  a  vain  opinion ;  and  they 
only  utter  lies.  It  is  he  who  hath  ordained  the  night  for  you, 
that  ye  may  take  your  rest  therein,  and  the  clear  day  for 
labor:  verily  herein  are  signs  unto  people  who  hearken. 
They  say,  GOD  hath  begotten  children  ;  GOD  forbid !  He 
is  self-sufficient.  Unto  him  belongeth  whatsoever  is  in  heaven 
and  on  earth :  ye  have  no  demonstrative  proof  of  this.  Do 
ye  speak  of  GOD  that  which  ye  know  not  ?  Say,  Verily 
they  who  imagine  a  lie  concerning  GOD  shall  not  prosper. 
They  may  enjoy  a  provision  in  this  world ;  but  afterwards 
unto  us  shall  they  return,  and  we  will  then  cause  them  to 
taste  a  grievous  punishment,  for  that  they  were  unbelievers. 
Rehearse  unto  them  the  history  of  Noah  :  when  he  said  unto 
his  people,  O  my  people,  if  my  standing  forth  among  you, 
and  my  warning  you  of  the  signs  of  GOD,  be  grievous  unto 
you ;  in  GOD  do  I  put  my  trust.  Therefore  lay  your  design 
against  me,  and  assemble  your  false  gods ;  but  let  not  your  de- 
sign be  carried  on  by  you  in  the  dark  :  then  come  forth  against 
me,  and  delay  not.  And  if  ye  turn  aside  from  my  admoni- 
tions, I  ask  not  any  reward  of  you  for  the  same ;  I  expect 
my  reward  from  GOD  alone,  and  I  am  commanded  to  be  one 
of  those  who  are  resigned  unto  him.  But  they  accused  him  of 
imposture,  wherefore  we  delivered  him,  and  those  who  wert 
with  him  in  the  ark,  and  we  caused  them  to  survive  the  flood, 
but  we  drowned  those  who  charged  our  signs  with  falsehood. 
Behold  therefore,  what  was  the  end  of  those  who  were  warned 
by  Noah.  Then  did  we  send,  after  him,  apostles  unto  theii 
respective  people,  and  they  came  unto  them  with  evident  dem- 
onstrations :  yet  they  were  not  disposed  to  believe  in  that 
which  they  had  before  rejected  as  false.  Thus  do  we  seal  up 
the  hearts  of  the  transgressors.  Then  did  we  send,  after 
them,  Moses  and  Aaron  unto  Pharaoh  and  his  princes  with  our 
signs :  but  they  behaved  proudly,  and  were  a  wicked  people. 
And  when  the  truth  from  us  had  come  unto  them,  they  said, 
Verily  this  is  manifest  sorcery.  Moses  said  unto  them,  Do 
ye  speak  this  of  the  truth,  after  it  hath  come  unto  you  ?  la 


190  Ai    KORAN. 

this  sorcery?  but  sorcerers  shall  not  prosper.     They  said, 
Art  thou  coine  unto  us  to  turn  us  aside  from  that  religion, 
which  we  found  our  fathers  practise ;  and  that  ye  two  may 
have  the  command  in  the  land  ?     But  we  do  not  believe  you. 
And  Pharaoh  said,  Bring  unto  me  every  expert  magician. 
And  when  the  magicians  were  come,  Moses  said  unto  them, 
Cast  down  that  which  ye  are  about  to  cast  down.     And  when 
they  had  cast  down  their  rods  and  cords,  Moses  said  unto 
them,  The  enchantment  which  ye  have  performed  shall  GOD 
surely  render  vain  ;  for  GOD  prospereth  not  the  work  of  th« 
wicked  doers,  and  GOD  will  verify  the  truth  of  his    words, 
although  the  wicked  be  adverse  thereto.     And  there  believed 
not  any  on  Mases,  except  a  generation  of  his  people,  for  fear 
of  Pharaoh  and  of  his  princes,  lest  he   should  afflict  them. 
And  Pharaoh  was  lifted  up  with  pride  in  the  earth,  and  was 
surely  one  of  the  transgressors.     And  Moses  said,  O  my  peo- 
ple, if  ye  believe  in  GOD,  put  your  trust  in  him,  if  ye  be 
resigned  to  his  will.     They  answered,  We  put  our  trust  in 
GOD  :  O  LORD,  suffer  us  not,  to  be  afflicted  by  unjust  people ; 
but   deliver    us,  through   thy   mercy,  from   the   unbelieving 
people.     And  we  spake  by  inspiration  unto  Moses  and  his 
brother,  saying,  Provide  habitations  for  your  people  in  Egypt, 
and  make  your  houses  a  place  of  worship,  and  be  constant  at 
prayer  :  and  bear  good  news  unto  the  true  believers. l  And 
Moses  said,  0  LORD,  verily  thou  hast  given  unto  Pharaoh  and 
his  people  pompous  ornaments,  and  riches  in  this  present  life, 
0  LOKD,  that  they  may  be  seduced  from  thy  way  :  0  LORD, 
bring  their  riches  to  nought,  and  harden  their  hearts ;  that 
they  may  not  believe,  until  they  see  their  grievous  punish- 
ment.      God  said,   Your  petition  is  heard ;   be  ye   upright 
therefore,  and  follow  not  the  way  of  those  who  are  ignorant. 
And  we  caused  the  children  of  Israel  to  pass  through  the 
sea ;  and  Pharaoh  and  his  army  followed  them  in  a  violent 
and  hostile  manner ;  until,  when  he  was  drowning,  he  said,  I 
believe  that  there  is  no  GOD  but  he,  on  whom  the  children  of 
Israel  believe  ;  and  I  am  one  of  the  resigned.2  Now  dost  thou 
believe  ;  when  thou  hast  been  hitherto  rebellious,  and  one  of 
the  wicked  doers  ?     This  day  will  we  raise  thy  body  from  thi 
bottom  of  the  sea,  that  thou  mayest  be  a  sign  unto  those  who 
shall   be  after  thee ;  and  verily  a  great  number  of  men  are 
negligent  of  our  signs.3   And  we  prepared  for  the  children  of 
Israel  an  established  dwelling  in  the  land  of  Canaan,  and  w» 


AL    KORAN.  191 

provided  good  things  for  their  sustenance  ;  and  they  differed 
not  in  point  of  religion,  until  knowledge  had  come  unto  them ; 
rerily  thy  LORD  will  judge  between  them  on  the  day  of  res- 
urrection, concerning  that  wherein  they  disagreed.  If  thou 
art  in  a  doubt  concerning  any  part  of  that  which  we  have 
sent  down  unto  thee,  ask  them  who  have  read  the  book  of 
the  law  before  thee.  Now  hath  the  truth  come  unto  thee 
from  thy  LORD  ;  be  not  therefore  one  of  those  who  doubt ; 
neither  be  thou  one  of  those  who  charge  the  signs  of  GOD 
with  falsehood,  lest  thou  become  one  of  those  who  perish. 
Verily  those  against  whom  the  word  of  thy  LORD  is  decreed, 
shall  not  believe,  although  there  come  unto  them  every  kind 
of  miracle,  until  they  see  the  grievous  punishment  prepared 
for  them.  And  if  it  were  not  so,  some  city,  among  the  many 
which  have  been  destroyed,  would  have  believed ;  and  the  faith 
of  its  inhabitants  would  have  been  of  advantage  unto  them ; 
but  none  of  them  believed,  before  the  execution  of  their  sentence., 
except  the  people  of  Jonas.1  When  they  believed,  we  de- 
livered them  from  the  punishment  of  shame  in  this  world,  and 
suffered  them  to  enjoy  their  lives  and  possessions  for  a  time. 
But  if  thy  LORD  had  pleased,  verily  all  who  are  in  the  earth 
would  have  believed  in  general.  Wilt  thou  therefore  forcibly 
compel  men  to  be  true  believers?  No  soul  can  believe,  but 
by  the  permission  of  GOD  :  and  he  shall  pour  out  his  indig- 
nation on  those  who  will  not  understand.  Say,  Consider 
whatever  is  in  heaven  and  on  earth :  but  signs  are  of  no  avail, 
neither  preachers,  unto  people  who  will  not  believe.  Do 
they  therefore  expect  any  other  than  some  terrible  judgment, 
like  unto  the  judgments  which  have  fallen  on  those  who  have 
gone  before  them  ?  Say,  Wait  ye  the  issue  ;  and  I  also  will 
wait  with  you ;  then  will  we  deliver  our  apostles  and  those 
who  believe.  Thus  is  it  a  justice  due  from  us,  that  we  should 
deliver  the  true  believers.  Say,  0  men  of  Mecca,  if  ye  be 
in  doubt  concerning  my  religion,  verily  I  worship  not  the  idolt 
which  ye  worship,  besides  GOD  ;  but  I  worship  GOD,  who 
will  cause  you  to  die :  and  I  am  commanded  to  be  one  of  the 
true  believers.  And  it  was  said  unto  me,  Set  thy  face  tow- 
ards the  true  religion,  and  be  orthodox ;  and  by  no  meana 
be  one  of  those  who  attribute  companions  unto  God ;  neither 
invoke,  besides  GOD,  that  which  can  neither  profit  thee  nor 
hurt  thee :  for  if  thou  do,  thou  wilt  then  certainly  become  on« 
9f  the  unjust  If  GOD  afflict  thee  with  hurt,  there  is  none 


192  AL  KORAN. 

who  can  relieve  thee  from  it,  except  he ;  and  if  he  willeth 
thee  any  good,  there  is  none  who  can  keep  back  his  bounty : 
he  will  confer  it  on  such  of  his  servants  as  he  pleas  eth  ;  and 
he  is  gracious  and  merciful.  Say,  0  men,  now  hath  the  truth 
come  unto  you  from  your  LORD.  He  therefore  who  shall  ba 
directed,  will  be  directed  to  the  advantage  of  his  own  soul : 
but  he  who  shall  err,  will  err  only  against  the  same.  I  am 
no  guardian  over  you.  Do  thou,  0  prophet,  follow  that 
which  is  revealed  unto  thee:  and  persevere  with  patience 
until  GOD  shall  judge  ;  for  he  is  the  best  judge. 


CHAPTER  XL 

nrriTLED,  HUD  ;  BEVEAXED  AT  MKCCA. 

OF    THE     NAMB    OF    THE    MOST    MERCIFUL   GOD. 

AL.  R.  THIS  book,  the  verses  whereof  are  guarded 
against  corruption,  and  are  also  distinctly  explained,  is  a  rev- 
elation from  the  wise,  the  knowing  God:  that  ye  serve  not 
any  other  GOD  ;  (verily  I  am  a  denouncer  of  threats,  and  a 
bearer  of  good  tidings  unto  you  from  him ;)  and  that  ye  ask 
pardon  of  your  LORD,  and  then  be  turned  unto  him.  He 
will  cause  you  to  enjoy  a  plentiful  provision,  until  a  prefixed 
time :  and  unto  every  one  that  hath  merit  by  good  works  will 
he  gire  his  abundant  reward.  But  if  ye  turn  back,  verily  I 
fear  for  you  the  punishment  of  the  great  day :  unto  GOD 
shall  ye  return ;  and  he  ib  almighty.  Do  they  not  double  the 
fold*  of  their  breasts,  that  they  may  conceal  their  designs  from 
him?  When  they  cover  themselves  with  their  garments, 
doth  not  he  know  that  which  they  conceal,  and  that  which 
they  discover  ?  For  he  knowelh  the  innermost  parts  of  the 
breadts  of  men.  There  is  no  creature  which  creepeth  on  the 
earth,  but  GOD  provideth  its  food  ;  and  he  knoweth  the  place 
of  its  retreat,  and  where  it  is  laid  up.  The  whole  is  written 
in  the  perspicuous  book  of  his  decrees.  It  is  he  who  hath 
created  the  heavens  and  the  earth  in  six  days,  (but  his  throne 
was  above  the  waters  before  the  creation  thereof,)  that  he 
might  prove  you,  and  see  which  of  you  would  excel  in  works.1* 
If  thou  say,  Ye  shall  surely  be  raised  again,  after  death  ;  the 


AL  KORAN.  193 

unbelievers  will  say,  This  is  nothing  but  manifest  sorcery. 
And  verily  if  we  defer  their  punishment  unto  a  determined 
season,  they  will  say,  What  hindereth  it  from  falling  on  its? 
Will  it  not  come  upon  them  on  a  day,  wherein  there  shall  be 
none  to  avert  it  from  them ;  and  that  which  they  scoffed  at 
shall  encompass  them  ?  Verily,  if  we  cause  man  to  taste 
mercy  from  us,  and  afterwards  take  it  away  from  him  ;  he 
will  surely  become  desperate,  and  ungrateful.  And  if  we 
cause  him  to  taste  favor,  after  an  affliction  hath  befallen  him, 
he  will  surely  say,  The  evils  which  I  suffered  are  passed 
from  me,  and  he  witt  become  joyful  and  insolent :  except  those 
who  persevere  with  patience,  and  do  that  which  is  right ; 
they  shall  receive  pardon,  and  a  great  reward.  Peradventure 
thou  wilt  omit  to  publish  part  of  that  which  hath  been  re- 
vealed unto  thee,  and  thy  breast  will  become  straitened,  lest 
they  say,  Unless  a  treasure  be  sent  down  unto  him,  or  an 
angel  come  with  him,  to  bear  witness  unto  him,  we  Witt  not 
believe.  Verily  thou  art  a  preacher  only ;  and  GOD  is  the 
governor  of  all  things.  Will  they  say,  He  hath  forged  the 
Koran  ?  Answer,  Bring  therefore  ten  chapters  like  unto  it, 
forged  by  yourselves :  and  call  on  whomsoever  ye  may  to 
assist  you,  except  GOD,  if  ye  speak  truth.  But  if  they 
whom  ye  call  to  your  assistance  hear  you  not ;  know  that  thit 
book  hath  been  revealed  by  the  knowledge  of  GOD  only,  and 
that  there  is  no  GOD  but  he.  Will  ye  therefore  become 
Moslems  ?  Whoso  chooseth  the  present  life,  and  the  pomp 
thereof,  unto  them  will  we  give  the  recompense  of  their  works 
therein,  and  the  same  shall  not  be  diminished  unto  them. 
These  are  they  for  whom  no  other  reward  is  prepared  in  the 
next  life,  except  the  fire  of  hell:  that  which  they  have  done 
in  this  life  shall  perish  ;  and  that  which  they  have  wrought 
s-hall  be  vain.  Shall  he  therefore  be  compared  with  them,  who 
followeth  the  evident  declaration  of  his  LORD,  and  whom  a 
witness  from  him  attendeth,  preceded  by  the  book  of  Moses, 
which  was  revealed  for  a  guide,  and  out  of  mercy  to  man- 
kind ?  These  believe  in  the  Koran :  but  whosoever  of  the 
confederate  infidel*  believetb  not  therein,  is  threatened  the 
fire  of  hell,  which  threat  shall  certainly  be  executed :  be  not 
therefore  in  a  doubt  concerning  it ;  for  it  is  the  truth  from 
thy  LORD  :  but  the  greater  part  of  men  will  not  believe. 
Who  is  more  unjust  than  he  who  imagineth  a  lie  concerning 
Gon  ?  They  shall  be  set  before  the  LORD,  at  the  day  of  Judy- 
la 


194  AL  KORAN. 

ment,  and  the  witnesses  shall  say,  These  are  they  who  devised 
lies  against  their  LORD.  Shall  not  the  curse  of  GOD  fall  on 
the  unjust ;  who  turn  men  aside  from  the  way  of  GOD,  and 
•eek  to  render  it  crooked,  and  who  believe  not  in  the  life  to 
come  ?  These  were  not  able  to  prevail  against  God  on  earth, 
to  as  to  escape  punishment;  neither  had  they  any  protectors 
besides  GOD  :  their  punishment  shall  be  doubled  unto  them. 
They  could  not  hear,  neither  did  they  see.  These  are  they 
who  have  lost  their  souls ;  and  the  idols  which  they  falsely 
imagined  have  abandoned  them.  There  is  no  doubt  but  they 
shall  be  most  miserable  in  the  world  to  come.  But  as  for 
those  who  believe  and  do  good  works,  and  humble  themselves 
before  their  LORD,  they  shall  be  the  inhabitants  of  paradise  ; 
they  shall  remain  therein  forever.  The  similitude  of  the 
two  parties  is  as  the  blind  and  the  deaf,  and  as  he  who  seeth 
and  heareth :  shall  they  be  compared  as  equal  ?  Will  ye 
not  therefore  consider?  We  formerly  sent  Noah  unto  his 
people  ;  and  he  said,  Verily  I  am  a  public  preacher  unto  you  ; 
that  ye  worship  GOD  alone  ;  verily  I  fear  for  you  the  punish- 
ment of  the  terrible  day.  But  the  chiefs  of  the  people,  who 
believed  not,  answered,  We  see  thee  to  be  no  other  than  a  man, 
like  unto  us ;  and  we  do  not  see  that  any  follow  thee,  except 
those  who  are  the  most  abject  among  us,  who  have  believed  on 
thee  by  a  rash  judgment ;  neither  do  we  perceive  any  excel- 
lence in  you  above  us :  but  we  esteem  you  to  be  liars.  Noah 
said,  0  my  people,  tell  me  ;  if  I  have  received  an  evident  dec- 
laration from  my  LORD,  and  he  hath  bestowed  on  me  mercy 
from  himself,  which  is  hidden  from  you,  do  we  compel  you  to 
receive  the  same,  in  case  ye  be  averse  thereto  ?  O  my  peo- 
ple, I  ask  not  of  you  riches,  for  my  preaching  unto  you  :  my 
reward  is  with  GOD  alone.  I  will  not  drive  away  those  who 
have  believed  :  verily  they  shall  meet  their  LORD,  at  the  res> 
urrection  ;  but  I  perceive  that  ye  are  ignorant  men.  0  my 
people,  who  shall  assist  me  against  GOD,  if  I  drive  them 
away?  Will  ye  not  therefore  consider?  I  say  not  unto 
you,  The  treasures  of  GOD  are  in  my  power ;  neither  do  1 
toy,  I  know  the  secrets  of  God:  neither  do  I  say,  Verily  I 
am  an  angel ;  neither  do  I  say  of  those  whom  your  eyes  do 
contemn,  GOD  will  by  no  means  bestow  good  on  them:  (Goo 
best  knoweth  that  which  is  in  their  souls ;)  for  then  should  I 
certainly  be  one  of  the  unjust.  They  answered,  O  Noah, 
thou  hast  already  disputed  with  us,  and  hast  multiplied  di* 


AL  KORAN.  195 

putes  with  us  ;  now  therefore  do  thou  bring  that  punishment 
upon  us  wherewith  thou  hast  threatened  us,  if  thou  speakest 
truth.  Noah  said,  Verily  GOD  alone  shall  bring  it  upon  you, 
if  he  pleaseth  ;  and  ye  shall  not  prevail  against  him,  so  as  to 
escape  the  same.  Neither  shall  my  counsel  profit  you,  al- 
Ihough  I  endeavor  to  counsel  you  aright,  if  GOD  shall  please 
Jo  lead  you  into  error.  He  is  your  LORD,  and  unto  him 
*hall  ye  return.  Will  the  Meccans  say,  Mohammed  hath 
forged  the  Koran  f  Answer,  If  I  have  forged  it,  on  me  be 
my  guilt :  and  let  me  be  clear  of  that  which  ye  are  guilty  of. 
And  it  was  revealed  unto  Noah,  saying,  Verily  none  of  thy 
people  shall  believe,  except  he  who  hath  already  believed : 
be  not  therefore  grieved,  for  that  which  they  are  doing. 
But  make  an  ark  in  our  presence,  according  to  the  form  and 
dimensions  which  we  have  revealed  unto  thee  :  and  speak 
not  unto  me  in  behalf  of  those  who  have  acted  unjustly  ;  for 
they  are  doomed  to  be  drowned.  And  he  built  the  ark  ;  and 
so  often  as  a  company  of  his  people  passed  by  him,  they  de- 
rided him:^but  he  said,  Though  ye  scoff  at  us  now,  we  will 
scoff  at  you  hereafter,  as  ye  scoff  at  us  ;  and  ye  shall  surely 
know  on  whom  a  punishment  shall  be  inflicted,  which  shaft 
cover  him  with  shame,  and  on  whom  a  lasting  punishment 
shall  fall.  Thus  were  they  employed  until  our  sentence  was 
put  in  execution,  and  the  oven  poured  forth  water.1  And  we 
said  unto  Noah,  Carry  into  the  ark  of  every  species  of  ani- 
mah  one  pair  ;2  and  thy  family,  (except  him  on  whom  a  pre- 
vious sentence  of  destruction  hath  passed,)  and  those  who  be- 
lieve.3 But  there  believed  not  with  him  except  a  few.  And 
Noah  said,  Embark  thereon,  in  the  name  of  GOD  ;  while  it 
moveth  forward,  and  while  it  standeth  still ;  for  my  LOBD  it 
gracious  and  merciful.4  And  the  ark  swam  with  them  be- 
tween waves  like  mountains  :  and  Noah  called  unto  his  son, 
who  was  separated  from  him,  saying,  Embark  with  us,  my 
son,  and  stay  not  with  the  unbelievers.  He  answered,  I  will 
get  on  a  mountain,  which  will  secure  me  from  the  water. 
Noah  replied,  There  is  no  security  this  day  from  the  decree 
of  GOD,  except  for  him  on  whom  he  shall  have  mercy. 
And  a  wave  passed  between  them,  and  he  became  one,  of 
those  who  were  drowned.  And  it  was  said,  O  earth,  swallow 
up  thy  waters,  and  thou,  O  heaven,  withhold  thy  rain.  And 
immediately  the  water  abated,  and  the  decree  was  fulfilled, 
and  the  ark  rested  on  the  mountain  Al  Judi ;  and  it  was  .said, 


196  AL  KORAN. 

Away  with  the  ungodly  people  ! l  And  Noah  called  upon  hia 
LORD,  and  said,  0  LORD,  verily  my  son  is  of  my  family,  and 
thy  promise  is  true ;  for  thou  art  the  most  just  of  those  who 
exercise  judgment.     God  answered,  O  Noah,  verily  he   is 
not  of  thy  family  ;  this   intercession  of  thine  for  him  is  not 
a  righteous  work.     Ask  not  of  me  therefore  that  wherein 
thou  hast  no  knowledge  :  I  admonish  thee  that  thou  become 
not  one  of  the  ignorant.     Noah  said,  O  LORD,  I  have  re- 
course unto  thee  for  the  assistance  of  thy  grace,  that  I  ask 
not  of  thee  that  wherein  I  have  no  knowledge ;  and  unless 
thou  forgive  me,  and  be  merciful  unto  me,  I  shall  be  one  of 
those  who  perish.     It  was  said  unto  him,  O  Noah,  come  down 
from  the  ark,  with  peace  from  us,  and  blessings  upon  thoe, 
and  upon  a  part  of  those  who  are  with  thee ;  but  as  for  a 
part  of  them,  we  will  suffer  them  to  enjoy  the  provision  of 
thit  world  ;  and  afterwards  shall  a  grievous  punishment  from 
us  be  inflicted  on  them,  in  the  life  to  corned  This  is  a  secret 
history,  which  we  reveal  unto  thee :  thou  didst  not  know  it, 
neither  did  thy  people,  before  this.     Wherefore  persevere 
with  patience :  for  the  prosperous  issue  shall  attend  the  pious. 
And  unto  the  tribe  of  Ad  we  sent  their  brother  Hud.     He 
said,  O  my  people,  worship  GOD  ;  ye  have  no  GOD  besides 
him ;  ye  only  imagine  falsehood,  in  setting  up  idols  and  in- 
tercessors of  your  own  making.     O  my  people,  I  ask  not  of 
you  for  this  my  preaching,  any  recompense :  my  recompense 
do  I  expect  from  him  only  who  hath  created  me.     Will  ye 
not  therefore  understand  ?     O  my  people,  ask  pardon  of  your 
LORD  ;  and  be  turned  unto  him :  he  will  send  the  heaven  to 
pour  forth  rain  plentifully  upon  you,  and  he  will  increase  your 
strength  by  giving  unto  you  farther  strength  :  therefore  turn 
not  aside,  to  commit  evil.     They  answered,  O  Hud,  thou  hast 
brought  us  no  proof  of  what  thou  sayest  ;  therefore  we  will 
not  leave  our  gods  for  thy  saying,  neither  do  we  believe  thee. 
We  say  no  other  than  that  some  of  our  gods  have  afflicted 
thee  with  evil.     He  replied,  Verily  I  call  GOD  to  witness, 
and    do    ye   also   bear   witness   that   I   am   clear   of   that 
which  ye   associate   with    God,  besides   him.      Do   ye   all 
therefore  join    to    devise    a   plot   against   me,  and    tarry 
uot ;  for  I  put  my  confidence  in  GOD,  my  LORD  and  your 
LORD.     There  is  no  beast,  but  he  holdeth  it  by  its  fore- 
jock  :  verily  my  LORD  proceedeth  in  the  right  way.      But 
if  ye  turn  back,  I  have  already  declared  unto  you  that  with 


AL  KORAN.  197 

which  I  was  sent  unto  you ;  and  my  LORD  shall  substitute 
another  nation  in  your  stead ;  and  ye  shall  not  hurt  him  at 
all :  for  my  LORD  is  guardian  over  all  things.  And  when 
our  sentence  came  to  be  put  in  execution,  we  delivered  Hud, 
and  those  who  had  believed  with  him,  through  our  mercy ; 
and  we  delivered  them  from  a  grievous  punishment.  And 
this  tribe  of  Ad  wittingly  rejected  the  signs  of  their  LORD, 
and  were  disobedient  unto  his  messengers,  and  they  followed 
the  command  of  every  rebellious  perverse  person.  Where- 
fore they  were  followed  hi  this  world  by  a  curse,  and  they 
shall  be  followed  by  the  same  on  the  day  of  resurrection.  Did 
not  Ad  disbelieve  in  their  LORD  ?  Was  it  not  said,  Away 
with  Ad,  the  people  of  Hud  ?  And  unto  the  tribe  of  Thamud 
we  sent  their  brother  Saleh.  He  said  unto  them,  0  my  peo- 
ple, worship  GOD  ;  ye  have  no  GOD  besides  him.  It  is  he 
who  hath  produced  you  out  of  the  earth,  and  hath  given  you 
an  habitation  therein.  Ask  pardon  of  him  therefore,  and  be 
turned  unto  him  ;  for  my  LORD  is  near,  and  ready  to  answer 
They  answered,  O  Saleh,  thou  wast  a  person  on  whom  we 
placed  our  hopes  before  this.  Dost  thou  forbid  us  to  worship 
that  which  our  fathers  worshipped  ?  But  we  are  certainly  in 
doubt  concerning  the  religion  to  which  thou  dost  invite  us,  as 
justly  to  be  suspected.  Saleh  said,  0  my  people,  tell  me ; 
if  I  have  received  an  evident  declaration  from  my  LORD, 
and  he  hath  bestowed  on  me  mercy  from  himself ;  who  will 
protect  me  from  the  vengeance  of  GOD,  if  I  be  disobedient 
unto  him  ?  For  ye  shall  not  add  unto  me,  other  than  loss. 
And  he  said,  O  my  people,  this  she-camel  of  GOD  is  a  sign 
unto  you  ;  therefore  dismiss  her  freely,  that  she  may  feed  in 
GOD'S  earth,  and  do  her  no  harm,  lest  a  swift  punishment 
seize  you.  Yet  they  killed  her ;  and  Saleh  said,  Enjoy  your- 
selves in  your  dwellings  for  three  days :  after  which  ye  shall 
be  destroyed.  This  is  an  infallible  prediction.  And  when  'our 
decree  came  to  be  executed,  we  delivered  Saleh  and  those  who 
believed  with  him,  through  our  mercy,  from  the  disgrace  of 
that  day ;  for  thy  LORD  is  the  strong,  the  mighty  God.  But 
a  terrible  noise  from  heaven  assailed  those  who  had  acted  un- 
justly ;  and  in  the  morning  they  were  found  in  their  houses, 
tying  dead  and  prostrate :  as  though  they  had  never  dwell 
therein.  Did  not  Thamud  disbelieve  in  their  LORD  ?  Was 
not  Thamud  cast  far  away  ?  Our  messengers  also  came 
formerly  unto  Abraham,  with  good  tidings  :  they  said,  Peaot 


198  AL   KORAN. 

be  upon  thee.1  And  he  answered,  and  on  you  be  Peace 
And  he  tarried  not,  but  brought  a  roasted  calf.  And 
when  he  saw  that  their  hands  did  not  touch  the  meat,  he  mis- 
liked  them,  and  entertained  a  fear  of  them.  But  they  eaid, 
Fear  not :  for  we  are  sent  unto  the  people  of  Lot.  And  his 
wife  Sarah  was  standing  by,  and  she  laughed ;  and  we 
promised  her  Isaac,  and  after  Isaac,  Jacob.  She  said,  Alas  ! 
shall  I  bear  a  son,  who  am  old ;  this  my  husband  also  being 
advanced  in  years  ?  Verily  this  would  be  a  wonderful  thing. 
The  angels  answered,  Dost  thou  wonder  at  the  effect  of  th« 
command  of  GOD  ?  The  mercy  of  God  and  his  blessings  be 
upon  you,  the  family  of  the  house :  for  he  is  praiseworthy, 
and  to  be  glorified.  And  when  his  apprehension  had  de- 
parted from  Abraham,  and  the  good  tidings  of  Isaac's  birth 
had  come  unto  him,  he  disputed  with  us  concerning  the  peo- 
ple of  Lot ;  for  Abraham  was  a  pitiful,  compassionate,  and 
devout  person.  The  angels  said  unto  him,  0  Abraham,  ab- 
stain from  this  ;  for  now  is  the  command  of  thy  LORD  come,  to 
put  their  sentence  in  execution,  and  an  inevitable  punishment  is 
ready  to  fall  upon  them.  And  when  our  messengers  came 
unto  Lot,  he  was  troubled  for  them,  and  his  arm  was  straight- 
ened concerning  them ;  and  he  said,  This  is  a  grievous  day. 
And  his  people  came  unto  him,  rushing  upon  him,  and  they 
had  formerly  been  guilty  of  wickedness.  Lot  said  unto  them, 
O  my  people,  these  my  daughters  are  more  lawi'ul  for  you : 
therefore  fear  GOD,  and  put  me  not  to  shame  by  wronging  my 
guests.  Is  there  not  a  man  of  prudence  among  you  ?  They 
answered,  Thou  knowest  that  we  have  no  need  of  thy  daugh- 
ters ;  and  thou  well  knowest  what  we  would  have.  He  said, 
If  I  had  strength  sufficient  to  oppose  you,  or  I  could  have 
recourse  unto  a  powerful  support,  /  would  certainly  do  it. 
The  angels  said,  O  Lot,  verily  we  are  the  messengers  of  thy 
LORD  ;  they  shall  by  no  means  come  in  unto  thee.  Go  forth, 
therefore,  with  thy  family,  in  some  part  of  the  night,  and  let 
not  any  of  you  turn  back :  but  as  for  thy  wife,  that  shall 
happen  unto  her,  which  shall  happen  unto  them.2  Verily  the 
prediction  of  their  punishment  shall  be  fulfilled  in  the  morn- 
ing: is  not  the  morning  near?  And  when  our  command 
came,  we  turned  those  cities  upside  down,  and  we  rained 
upon  them  stones  of  baked  clay,  one  following  another,  and 
being  marked  from  thy  LORD  ;  and  they  are  not  far  distant 
from  those  who  act  unjustly.  And  unto  Madian  we  sent  theif 


AL  KORAN.  199 

brother  Shoaib :  he  said,  0  my  people,  worship  GOD  :  y« 
have  no  GOD  but  him :  and  diminish  not  measure  and  weight 
Verily  I  see  you  to  be  in  a  happy  condition :  but  I  fear  for 
you  the  punishment  of  the  day  which  will  encompass  the  un- 
godly. O  my  people,  give  full  measure  and  just  weight; 
and  diminish  not  unto  men  aught  of  their  matters ;  neither 
commit  injustice  in  the  earth,  acting  corruptly.  The  residue 
which  shall  remain  unto  you  as  the  gift  of  GOD,  after  ye  shall 
have  done  justice  to  others,  will  be  better  for  you,  than  wealth 
gotten  by  fraud,  if  ye  be  true  believers.  I  am  no  guardian 
over  you.  They  answered,  0  Shoaib,  do  thy  prayers  enjoin 
thee,  that  we  should  leave  the  gods  which  our  fathers  wor- 
shipped ;  or  that  we  should  not  do  what  we  please  with  our 
substance.  Thou  only,  it  seems,  art  the  wise  person,  and  fit  to 
direct.  He  said,  0  my  people,  tell  me :  if  I  have  received 
an  evident  declaration  from  my  LORD,  and  he  hath  bestowed 
on  me  an  excellent  provision,  and  I  will  not  consent  unto  you 
in  that  which  I  forbid  you  ;  do  I  seek  any  other  than  your 
reformation,  to  the  utmost  of  my  power?  My  support  is 
from  GOD  alone :  on  him  do  I  trust,  and  unto  him  do  I  turn 
me.  O  my  people,  let  not  your  opposing  of  me  draw  on  you 
a  vengeance  like  unto  that  which  fell  on  the  people  of  Noah, 
or  the  people  of  Hud,  or  the  people  of  Saleh :  neither  was 
the  people  of  Lot  far  distant  from  you.  Ask  pardon,  there- 
fore, of  your  LORD  ;  and  be  turned  unto  him :  for  my  LORP 
is  merciful  and  loving.  They  answered,  O  Shoaib,  we  under- 
stand not  much  of  what  thou  sayest ;  and  we  see  thee  to  be 
a  man  of  no  power  among  us  :  if  it  had  not  beenybr  the  sake 
of  thy  family,  we  had  surely  stoned  thee,  neither  couldst 
thou  have  prevailed  against  us.  Shoaib  said,  O  my  people, 
is  my  family  more  worthy  in  your  opinion  than  GOD  ?  and 
do  ye  cast  him  behind  you  with  neglect?  Verily  my  LORD 
comprehendeth  that  which  ye  do.  O  my  people,  do  ye  work 
according  to  your  condition  ;  I  will  surely  work  according  to 
my  duty.  And  ye  shall  certainly  know  on  whom  will  be  in- 
flicted a  punishment  which  shall  cover  him  with  shame,  and 
who  is  a  liar.  Wait,  therefore,  the  event ;  for  I  also  will  wait 
it  with  you.  Wherefore,  when  our  decree  came  to  be  exe- 
cuted, we  delivered  Shoaib  and  those  who  believed  with  him, 
.hrough  our  mercy  :  and  a  terrible  noise  from  Heaven  assailed 
those  who  had  acted  unjustly ;  and  in  the  morning  they  were 
Found  in  their  houses  lying  dead  and  prostrate,  as  though  they 


200  AL  KORAK. 

had  never  dwelt  therein.  Was  not  Madian  removed  ft  cm 
off  the  earth,  as  Thamud  had  been  removed?  And  we 
formerly  sent  Moses  with  our  signs,  and  manifest  power  unto 
Pharoah  and  his  princes ;  but  they  followed  the  command  of 
Pharaoh ;  although  the  command  of  Pharaoh  did  not  direct 
them  aright.  Pharaoh  shall  precede  his  on  the  day  of  resur- 
rection, and  he  shall  lead  them  into  hett  fire;  an  unhappy 
way  shall  it  be  which  they  shall  be  led.  They  were  followed 
in  this  life  by  a  curse,  and  on  the  day  of  resurrection  mis- 
erable shall  be  the  gift  which  shall  be  given  them.  This  is 
a  part  of  tte  histories  of  the  cities,  which  we  rehearse  unto 
thee.  Of  them  there  are  some  standing ;  and  others  which 
are  utterly  demolished.  And  we  treated  them  not  unjustly, 
but  they  dealt  unjustly  with  their  own  souls  :  and  their  gods 
which  they  invoked,  besides  GOD,  were  of  no  advantage  unto 
them  at  all,  when  the  decree  of  thy  LORD  came  to  be  executed 
on  them,  neither  were  they  any  other  than  a  detriment  unto 
them.  And  thus  was  the  punishment  of  thy  LORD  inflicted, 
when  he  punished  the  cities  which  were  unjust ;  for  his  pun- 
ishment is  grievous  and  severe.  Verily  herein  is  a  sign  unto 
him  who  feareth  the  punishment  of  the  last  day :  that  shall  be 
a  day,  whereon  all  men  shall  be  assembled,  and  that  shall 
be  a  day  whereon  witness  shall  be  borne ;  we  defer  it 
not,  but  to  a  determined  time.  When  that  day  shall  come, 
no  soul  shall  speak  to  excuse  itself,  or  to  intercede  for 
another,  but  by  the  permission  of  God.  Of  them,  one 
thatt  be  miserable,  and  another  shall  be  happy.  And 
they  who  shall  be  miserable,  shall  be  thrown  into  hell  fire ; 
there  shall  they  wail  and  bemoan  themselves :  they  shall  re- 
main therein  so  long  as  the  heavens  and  the  earth  shall 
endure  ;  except  what  thy  LORD  shall  please  to  remit  of  theii 
tentence ;  for  thy  LORD  effecteth  that  which  he  pleaseth. 
But  they  who  shall  be  happy,  shatt  be  admitted  into  paradise  •, 
they  shall  remain  therein  so  long  as  the  heavens  and  the 
earth  endure  :  besides  what  thy  LORD  shall  please  to  add  unto 
their  bliss  ;  a  bounty  which  shall  not  be  interrupted.  Be  not 
therefore  in  doubt  concerning  that  which  these  men  worship : 
they  worship  no  other  than  what  their  fathers  worshipped 
Defore  them  ;  and  we  will  surely  give  them  their  full  portion, 
not  in  the  least  diminished.  We  formerly  gave  unto  Moseg 
the  book  of  the  law ;  and  disputes  arose  among  his  people 
concerning  it :  and  unless  a  previous  decree  had  proceeded 


AL   KORAH.  SOI 

from  thy  LORD,  to  beat  Kith  them  during  this  life,  the  matter 
had  .been  surely  decided  between  them.  And  thy  people  are 
oho  jealous  and  in  doubt  concerning  the  Koran.  But  unto 
every  one  of  them  will  thy  LORD  render  the  reward  of  their 
works ;  for  he  well  knoweth  that  which  they  do.  Be  thou 
steadfast,  therefore,  as  thou  hast  been  commanded  ;  and  let  him 
also  be  steadfast  who  shall  be  converted  with  thet  ;  and  trans- 
gress not ;  for  he  seeth  that  which  ye  do.  And  incline  not 
unto  those  who  act  unjustly,  lest  the  fire  of  hell  touch  you : 
for  ye  have  no  protectors,  except  GOD  ;  neither  shall  ye  be 
assisted  against  him.  Pray  regularly  morning  and  evening ; 
and  in  the  former  part  of  the  night,  for  good  works  drive 
away  evils.  This  is  an  admonition  unto  those  who  consider : 
wherefore  persevere  with  patience ;  for  GOD  suffereth  not 
the  reward  of  the  righteous  to  perish.  Were  such  of  the 
generations  before  you,  endued  with  understanding  and  virtue, 
who  forbade  the  acting  corruptly  in  the  earth,  any  more  than 
a  few  only  of  those  whom  we  delivered ;  but  they  who  were 
unjust  followed  the  delights  which  they  enjoyed  in  this  world, 
and  were  wicked  doers :  and  thy  LORD  was  not  of  such  a 
disposition  as  to  destroy  the  cities  unjustly,  while  their  in- 
habitants behaved  themselves  uprightly.  And  if  thy  LORD 
pleased,  he  would  have  made  all  men  of  one  religion  :  but 
they  shall  not  cease  to  differ  among  themselves,  unless  those 
on  whom  thy  LORD  shall  have  mercy :  and  unto  this  hath  he 
created  them ;  for  the  word  of  thy  LORD  shall  be  fulfilled, 
when  he  said,  Verily  I  will  fill  hell  altogether  with  genii  and 
men.  The  whole  which  we  have  related  of  the  histories  of 
our  apostles  do  we  relate  unto  thee,  that  we  may  confirm  thy 
heart  thereby  ;  and  herein  is  the  truth  come  unto  thee,  and 
an  admonition,  and  a  warning  unto  the  true  believers.  Say 
unto  those  who  believe  not,  Act  ye  according  to  your  con- 
dition ;  we  surely  will  act  according  to  our  duty:  and  wait 
the  issue  ;  for  we  certainly  wait  it  also.  Unto  GOD  is  known 
that  which  is  secret  in  heaven  and  earth  ;  and  unto  him  shall 
the  whole  matter  be  referred.  Therefore  worship  him,  and 
put  thy  trust  in  him ;  for  thy  LOBD  is  not  regardless  of  that 
which  ye  do. 


202  AL  KORAN. 

CHAPTER  XIL 

uniTLED,  JOSEPH;  REVEALED  AT  MECCA. 

IN    THE    KASIB    OF   THE    MOST   MEHCIFOL   GOD. 

AL.  E.  These  are  the  signs  of  the  perspicuous  book 
which  we  have  sent  down  in  the  Arabic  tongue,  that,  perad« 
venture,  ye  might  understand.  We  relate  unto  thee  a  most 
excellent  history,  by  revealing  unto  thee  this  Koran,  whereas 
thou  wast  before  one  of  the  negligent.  When  Joseph  said 
unto  his  father,  0  my  father,  verily  I  saw  in  my  dream 
eleven  stars,  and  the  sun  and  the  moon ;  I  saw  them  make 
obeisance  unto  me  :  Jacob  said,  O  my  child,  tell  not  thy  vis- 
ion to  thy  brethren,  lest  they  devise  some  plot  against  thee  ; 
for  the  devil  is  a  professed  enemy  unto  man  ;  and  thus,  ac- 
cording to  thy  dream,  shall  thy  LORD  choose  thee,  and  teach 
thee  the  interpretation  of  dark  sayings,  and  he  shall  accom- 
plish his  favor  upon  thee  and  upon  the  family  of  Jacob,  as 
he  hath  formerly  accomplished  it  upon  thy  fathers  Abraham 
and  Isaac ;  for  thy  LORD  is  knowing  and  wise.  Surely  in 
the  history  of  Joseph  and  his  brethren  there  are  signs  of 
God's  providence  to  the  inquisitive ;  when  they  said  to  one 
another,  Joseph  and  his  brother  are  dearer  to  our  father  than 
we,  who  are  the  greater  number :  our  father  certainly  maketh 
a  wrong  judgment  Wherefore  slay  Joseph,  or  drive  him  into 
some  distant  or  desert  part  of  the  earth,  and  the  face  of  your 
father  shall  be  cleared  towards  you ;  and  ye  shall  afterwards 
be  people  of  integrity.  One  of  them  spoke  and  said ;  Slay 
not  Joseph,  but  throw  him  to  the  bottom  of  the  well ;  and 
some  travellers  will  take  him  up,  if  ye  do  this.  They  said 
unto  Jacob,  0  father,  why  dost  thou  not  intrust  Joseph  with 
us,  since  we  are  sincere  well-wishers  unto  him  ?  Send  him 
with  us  to-morrow,  into  the  jield,  that  he  may  divert  him- 
self, and  sport,  and  we  will  be  his  guardians.  Jacob  answered, 
It  grieveth  me  that  ye  take  him  away  ;  and  I  fear  lest  the 
wolf  devour  him,  while  ye  are  negligent  of  him.  They  said, 
Surely  if  the  wolf  devour  him,  when  there  are  so  many  of 
as,  we  shall  be  weak  indeed.  And  when  they  had  carried 
him  with  them,  and  agreed  to  set  him  at  the  bottom  of  the 


AL  KORAN.  203 

well,  they  executed  their  design:  and  we  sent  a  revelation 
unto  him,  saying,  Thou  shalt  hereafter  declare  this  their  action 
uuto  them ;  and  they  shall  not  perceive  thee  to  be  Joseph.1 
And  they  came  to  their  father  at  even,  weeping,  and  said, 
Father,  we  went  and  ran  races  with  one  another,  and  we 
left  Joseph  with  our  baggage,  and  the  wolf  hath  devoured 
him ;  but  thou  wilt  not  believe  us,  although  we  speak  the 
truth.  And  they  produced  his  inner  garment  stained  with 
false  blood.  Jacob  answered,  Nay,  but  ye  yourselves  have 
contrived  the  thing  for  your  own  sakes  :  however  patience  is 
most  becoming,  and  GOD'S  assistance  is  to  be  implored  to 
enable  me  to  support  the  misfortune  which  ye  relate.  And 
certain  travellers  came,  and  sent  one  to  draw  water  for  them  ; 
and  he  let  down  his  bucket,  and  said,  Good  news !  this  is  a 
youth.  And  they  concealed  him,  that  they  might  sett  him  as 
a  piece  of  merchandise :  but  GOD  knew  that  which  they  did. 
And  they  sold  him  for  a  mean  price,  for  a  few  pence,  and 
valued  him  lightly.  And  the  Egyptian  who  bought  him  said 
to  his  wife,  use  him  honorably ;  peradventure  he  may  be  ser- 
viceable to  us,  or  we  may  adopt  him  for  our  son.2  Thus  did 
we  prepare  an  establishment  for  Joseph  in  the  earth,  and  we 
taught  him  the  interpretation  of  dark  sayings :  for  GOD  is 
well  able  to  effect  his  purpose ;  but  the  greater  part  of  men 
do  not  understand.  And  when  he  had  attained  his  age 
of  strength,  we  bestowed  on  him  wisdom,  and  knowledge; 
for  thus  do  we  recompense  the  righteous.  And  she,  in  whose 
house  he  was,  desired  him  to  lie  with  her ;  and  she  shut  the 
doors  and  said,  Come  hither.  He  answered,  GOD  forbid ! 
verily  my  lord  hath  made  my  dwelling  with  him  easy ;  and 
the  ungrateful  shall  not  prosper.  But  she  resolved  within 
herself  to  enjoy  him,  and  he  would  have  resolved  to  enjoy  her, 
had  he  not  seen  the  evident  demonstration  of  his  LORD.  So 
we  turned  away  evil  and  filthiness  from  him,  because  he  waj 
one  of  our  sincere  servants.  And  they  ran  to  get  one  before 
the  other  to  the  door ;  and  she  rent  his  inner  garment  behind. 
And  they  met  her  lord  at  the  door.  She  said,  What  shall  le 
the  reward  of  him  who  seeketh  to  commit  evil  in  thy  family, 
but  imprisonment,  and  a  painful  punishment  ?  And  Joseph 
said,  She  asked  me  to  lie  with  her.  And  a  witness  of  hei 
family  bore  witness,  saying,  If  his  garment  be  rent  before, 
»he  speaketh  truth,  and  he  is  a  liar :  but  if  his  garment  be 
•ent  behind,  she  lieth,  and  he  is  a  speaker  of  truth.  And 


204  AL   KORAN. 

when  her  husband  saw  that  his  garment  was  torn  behind,  h» 
said,  This  is  a  cunning  contrivance  of  your  sex  ;  for  surely 
your  cunning  is  great.  O  Joseph,  take  no  farther  notice  of 
this  affair :  and  thou,  0  woman,  ask  pardon  for  thy  crime  ; 
ibr  thou  art  a  guilty  person.  And  certain  women  said  pub 
licly  in  the  city,  The  nobleman's  wife  asked  her  servant  t< 
lie  with  her ;  he  hath  inflamed  her  breast  with  his  love ;  anc 
we  perceive  her  to  be  in  manifest  error.  And  when  she 
heard  of  their  subtle  behavior,  she  sent  unto  them,  and  pre- 
pared a  banquet  for  them,  and  she  gave  to  each  of  them  a 
knife  ;  and  she  said  unto  Joseph,  Come  forth  unto  them. 
And  when  they  saw  him,  they  praised  him  greatly ;  and  they 
cut  their  own  hands,  and  said,  O  GOD  !  this  is  not  a  mortal ; 
he  is  no  other,  than  an  angel,  deserving  the  highest  respect. 
And  his  mistress  said,  This  is  he,  for  whose  sake  ye  blamed1 
me:  I  asked  him  to  lie  with  me,  but  he  constantly  refused. 
But  if  he  do  not  perform  that  which  I  command  him,  lie  shall 
surely  be  cast  into  prison,  and  he  shall  be  made  one  of  the 
contemptible.  Joseph  said,  O  LORD,  a  prison  is  more  eligible 
unto  me  than  the  crime  to  which  they  invite  me  ;  but  unless 
thou  turn  aside  their  snares  from  me,  I  shall  youthfully 
incline  unto  them,  and  I  shall  become  one  of  the  foolish. 
Wherefore  his  LORD  heard  him,  and  turned  aside  their  snare 
from  him  ;  for  he  both  heareth  and  knoweth.  And  it  seemed 
good  unto  them  even  after  they  had  seen  the  signs  of  inno- 
cency,  to  imprison  him  for  a  time.  And  there  entered  into 
the  prison  with  him  two  of  the  king's  servants.  One  of  them 
said,  it  seemed  to  me  in  my  dream  that  I  pressed  wine  out 
of  grapes.  And  the  other  said,  It  seemed  unto  me  in  my 
dream  that  I  carried  bread  on  my  head,  whereof  the  birds 
did  eat.  Declare  unto  us  the  interpretation  of  our  dreams, 
for  we  perceive  that  thou  art  a  beneficent  person.  Joseph 
answered,  No  food,  wherewith  ye  may  be  nourished,  shall 
come  unto  you,  but  I  will  declare  unto  you  the  interpreta- 
tion thereof,  before  it  come  unto  you,  This  knowledge  is  a 
part  of  that  which  my  LORD  hath  taught  me :  for  I  have 
left  the  religion  of  people  who  believe  not  in  GOD,  and  who 
deny  the  life  to  come ;  and  I  follow  the  religion  of  my  fathers, 
Abraham,  and  Isaac,  and  Jacob.  It  is  not  lawful  for  us  to 
associate  anything  with  GOD.  This  knowledge  of  the  divint 
unity  hath  been  given  us  of  the  bounty  of  GOD  towards  us. 
%nd  towards  mankind  ;  but  the  greater  part  of  men  are  not 


AL  KORAN.  205 

thankful.  0  my  fellow-prisoners,  are  sundry  lords  better,  or 
the  only  true  and  mighty  GOD  ?  Ye  worship  not,  besides 
him  other  than  the  names  which  ye  have  named,  ye  and  your 
fathers,  concerning  which  GOD  hath  sent  down  no  authori- 
tative proof:  yet  judgment  belongeth  unto  GOD  alone;  who 
hath  commanded  that  ye  worship  none  besides  him.  This 
is  the  right  religion ;  but  the  greater  part  of  men  know  it 
not.  O  my  fellow-prisoners,  verily  the  one  of  you  shall  serve 
wine  unto  his  lord,  as  formerly  ;  but  the  other  shall  be  cru 
eified,  and  the  birds  shall  eat  from  off  his  head.  The  matter 
is  decreed,  concerning  which  ye  seek  to  be  informed.  And 
Joseph  said  unto  him  whom  he  judged  to  be  the  person  who 
should  escape  of  the  two,  Remember  me  in  the  presence  of 
thy  lord.  But  the  devil  caused  him  to  forget  to  make  men- 
tion of  Joseph  unto  his  lord ;  wherefore  he  remained  in  the 
prison  some  years.  And  the  king  of  Egypt  said,  Verily,  I 
saw  in  my  dream  seven  fat  kine,  which  seven  lean  kine  de- 
voured, and  seven  green  ears  of  com,  and  other  seven  with- 
ered ears.  0  nobles,  expound  my  vision  unto  me,  if  ye  be 
able  to  interpret  a  vision.  They  answered,  They  are  con- 
fused dreams,  neither  are  we  skilled  in  the  interpretation  of 
such  kind  of  dreams.  And  Joseph's  fellow-prisoner  who  had 
been  delivered,  said,  (for  he  remembered  Joseph  after  a  cer- 
tain space  of  time,)  I  will  declare  unto  you  the  interpreta- 
tion thereof;  wherefore  let  me  go  unto  the  person  who  will 
interpret  it  unto  me.  And  he  went  to  the  prison,  and  said, 
O  Joseph,  thou  man  of  veracity,  teach  us  the  interpretation 
of  seven  fat  kine,  which  seven  lean  kine  devoured ;  and  of 
seven  green  ears  of  corn,  and  other  seven  withered  ears, 
which  the  king  saw  in  his  dream  ;  that  I  may  return  unto  the 
men  who  have  sent  me,  that  peradventure  they  may  under- 
stand the  same.  Joseph  answered,  Ye  shall  sow  seven  years 
as  usual :  and  the  corn  which  ye  shall  reap,  do  ye  leave  in 
its  ear,  except  a  little  whereof  ye  may  eat.  Then  shall  there 
come,  after  this,  seven  grievous  years  of  famine,  which  shall 
consume  what  ye  shall  have  laid  up  as  a  provision  for  the 
same,  except  a  little  which  ye  shall  have  kept.  Then  shall 
there  come,  after  this,  a  year  wherein  men  shall  have  plenty 
of  rain,  and  wherein  they  shall  press  wine  and  oil.1  And 
when  the  chief  butler  had  reported  this,  the  king  said,  Bring 
him  unto  me.  And  when  the  messenger  came  unto  Joseph, 
he  said,  Return  unto  thy  lord,  and  ask  of  him,  what  was  the 


206  AL  KORAN. 

intent  of  the  women  who  cut  their  hands;  for  ray  LORD 
well  knoweth  the  snare  which  they  laid  for  me.  And  when 
the  women  were  assembled  before  the  king,  he  said  unto  them, 
What  was  your  design,  when  ye  solicited  Joseph  to  unlawful 
love  ?  They  answered,  GOD  be  praised  !  we  know  not  any 
ill  of  him.  The  nobleman's  wife  said,  Now  is  the  truth  be- 
come manifest :  I  solicited  him  to  lie  with  me  ;  and  he  is  one 
of  those  who  speak  truth.  And  when  Joseph  was  acquainted 
therewith,  he  said,  This  discovery  hath  been  made,  that  my  lord 
might  know  that  I  was  not  unfaithful  unto  him  in  his  absence, 
and  that  God  directeth  not  the  plot  of  the  deceivers.  Neither 
do  I  absolutely  justify  myself:  since  every  scrul  is  prone  unto 
evil,  except  those  on  whom  my  LORD  shall  show  mercy ;  for 
my  LORD  is  gracious  and  merciful.  And  the  king  said, 
Bring  him  unto  me :  I  will  take  him  into  my  own  peculiar 
service.  And  when  Joseph  was  brought  unto  the  king,  and 
he  had  discoursed  with  him,  he  said,  Thou  art  this  day  firmly 
established  with  us,  and  shah  be  intrusted  with  our  affair^ 
Joseph  answered,  Set  me  over  the  storehouses  of  the  land ; 
for  I  will  be  a  skilful  keeper  thereof.  Thus  did  we  establish 
Joseph  in  the  land,  that  he  might  provide  himself  a  dwelling 
therein,  where  he  pleased.  We  bestow  our  mercy  on  whom 
we  please,  and  we  suffer  not  the  reward  of  the  righteous  to 
perish :  and  certainly  the  reward  of  the  next  life  is  better, 
for  those  who  believe,  and  fear  God.  Moreover,  Joseph's 
brethren  came,  and  went  in  unto  him ;  and  he  knew  them, 
but  they  knew  not  him.  And  when  he  had  furnished  them 
with  their  provisions,  he  said,  Bring  unto  me  your  brother, 
the  son  of  your  father ;  do  ye  not  see  that  I  give  full  measure, 
and  that  I  am  the  most  hospitable  receiver  of  guests  ?  But 
if  ye  bring  him  not  unto  me,  there  shall  be  no  corn  measured 
unto  you  from  me,  neither  shall  ye  approach  my  presence, 
They  answered,  We  will  endeavor  to  obtain  him  of  his  father, 
and  we  will  certainly  perform  what  thou  requirest.  And 
Joseph  said  to  his  servants,  Put  their  money,  which  they  have 
^aid/or  their  corn,  into  their  sacks,  that  they  may  perceive 
»t,  when  they  shall  be  returned  to  their  family  :  peradventure 
they  will  come  back  unto  us.  And  when  they  were  returned 
onto  their  father,  they  said,  0  father,  it  is  forbidden  to  meas- 
ure out  corn  unto  us  any  more,  unless  we  carry  our  brother 
Benjamin  with  us :  wherefore  send  our  brother  with  us,  and 
we  shall  have  corn  measured  unto  us ;  and  we  will  certainly 


AL  KORAN.  207 

guard  him  from  any  mischance.  Jacob  answered,  Shall  I 
trust  him  with  you  with  any  better  success  than  I  trusted  your 
brother  Joseph  with  you  heretofore  ?  But  GOD  is  the  best 
guardian ;  and  he  is  the  most  merciful  of  those  that  show 
mercy.  And  when  they  opened  their  provision,  they  found 
their  money  had  been  returned  unto  them ;  and  they  said, 
0  father,  what  do  we  desire  farther  f  this  our  money  hath 
been  returned  unto  us  ;  we  will  therefore  return,  and  provide 
corn  for  our  family :  we  will  take  care  of  our  brother ;  and 
we  shall  receive  a  camel's  burden  more  than  toe  did  the  last 
time.  This  is  a  small  quantity.  Jacob  said,  I  will  by  no 
means  send  him  with  you,  until  ye  give  me  a  solemn  prom- 
ise, and  swear  by  GOD  that  ye  will  certainly  bring  him  back 
unto  me,  unless  ye  be  encompassed  by  some  inevitable  impedi- 
ment. And  when  they  had  given  him  their  solemn  promise, 
he  said,  GOD  is  witness  of  what  we  say.  And  he  said,  My 
sons,  enter  not  into  the  city  by  one  and  the  same  gate ;  but 
enter  by  different  gates.  But  this  precaution  will  be  of  no 
advantage  unto  you  against  the  decree  of  GOD  ;  for  judgment 
belongeth  unto  GOD  alone :  in  him  do  I  put  my  trust,  and 
in  him  let  those  confide  who  seek  in  whom  to  put  their  trust. 
And  when  they  entered  the  city,  as  their  father  had  com- 
manded them,  it  was  of  no  advantage  unto  them  against  the 
decree  of  GOD  ;  and  the  same  served  only  to  satisfy  the  desire 
of  Jacob's  soul,  which  he  had  charged  them  to  perform :  for 
he  was  endued  with  knowledge  of  that  which  we  had  taught 
him  ;  but  the  greater  part  of  men  do  not  understand.  And 
when  they  entered  into  the  presence  of  Joseph,  he  received 
his  brother  Benjamin  as  his  guest,  and  said,  Verily  I  am  thy 
brother,  be  not  therefore  afflicted  for  that  which  they  have 
committed  against  us.  And  when  he  had  furnished  them 
with  their  provisions,  he  put  his  cup  in  his  brother  Benja- 
min's sack.  Then  a  crier  cried  after  them,  saying,  O  com- 
pany of  travellers,  ye  are  surely  thieves.  They  said,  (and 
turned  back  unto  them,)  What  is  it  that  ye  miss  ?  They 
answered,  We  miss  the  prince's  cup :  and  unto  him  who  shall 
produce  it,  shall  be  given  a  camel's  load  of  corn,  and  I  will  b« 
surety  for  the  same.  Joseph's  brethren  replied,  By  GOD,  ye 
do  well  know,  that  we  come  not  to  act  corruptly  in  the  land, 
neither  are  we  thieves.  The  Egyptians  said,  What  shall  be 
the  reward  of  him,  who  shall  appear  to  have  stolen  the  cup,  if 
ye  be  found  liars  ?  Joseph's  brethren  answered,  As  to  the 


208  AL  KORAN. 

reward  of  him,  in  whose  sack  it  shall  be  found,  let  him  be- 
come a  bondman  in  satisfaction  of  the  same :  thus  do  we  re- 
ward the  unjust,  who  are  guilty  of  theft.     Then  he  began  by 
their  sacks,  before  he  searched  the  sack  of  his  brother ;  and 
ho  drew  out  the  cup  from  his  brother's  sack.     Thus  did  we 
furnish  Joseph  with  a  stratagem.     It  was  not  lawful  for  him 
to  take  his  brother  for  a  bondman,  by  the  law  of  the  king  of 
Egypt,  had  not  GOD  pleased  to  allow  it,  according  to  the  offer 
of  his  brethren.     We  exalt  to  degrees  of  knowledge  and  honor 
whom  we  please :  and  there  is  one  who  is  knowing  above  all 
those  who  are  endued  with  knowledge,     fits  brethren  said, 
If  Benjamin  be  guilty  of  theft,  his  brother  Joseph  hath  been 
also  guilty  of  theft  heretofore. l  But  Joseph  concealed  these 
things  in  his  mind,  and  did  not  discover  them  unto  them : 
and  he  said  within  himself.  Ye  are  in  a  worse  condition  than 
us  two;  and  GOD  best  knoweth  what  ye  discourse  about 
They  said  unto  Joseph,  Noble  lord,  verily  this  lad  hath  an 
aged  father ;  wherefore  take  one  of  us  in  his  stead  ;  for  we 
perceive  that  thou  art  a  beneficent  person.    Joseph  answered, 
GOD  forbid  that  we  should  take  any  other  than  him  with 
whom  we  found  our  goods ;  for  then  should  we  certainly  be 
unjust.     And  when  they  despaired  of  obtaining  Benjamin, 
they  retired  to  confer  privately  together.     And  the  elder  of 
them  said,  Do  ye  not  know  that  your  father  hath  received  a 
solemn  promise  from  you,  in  the  name  of  GOD,  and  how 
perfidiously  ye  behaved  heretofore  towards  Joseph  ?    Where- 
fore I  will  by  no  means  depart  the  land  of  Egypt,  until  my 
father  give  me  leave  to  return  unto  him,  or  GOD  maketh 
known  his  will  to  me  ;  for  he  is  the  best  judge.     Return  ye 
to  your  father,  and  say,  0  father,  verily  thy  son  hath  com- 
mitted theft;  we  bear  witness  of  no   more  than  what  we 
knew,  and  we  could  not  guard  against  what  we  did  not  fore- 
see :  and  do  thou  inquire  in  the  city,  where  we  have  been, 
and  of  the  company  of  merchants,  with  whom  we  are  arrived, 
and  thou  wilt  find  that  we  speak  the  truth.     And  when  they 
were  returned,  and  had  spoken  thus  to  their  father,  he  said, 
Nay,  but  rather  ye  yourselves  have  contrived  the  thing  for 
your  own  sakes,  but  patience  is  most  proper  for  me  ;  perad- 
venture  GOD  will  restore  them  all  unto  me  ;  for  he  is  know- 
ing and  wise.     And  he  turned  from  them  and  said,  Oh  how 
I  am  grieved  for  Joseph  !     And  his  eyes  became  white  with 
mourning,  he  being  oppressed  with  deep  sorrow.     His  sont 


AL   KORAN.  209 

said,  By  GOD,  thou  wilt  not  cease  to  remember  Joseph  until 
thou  be  brought  to  death's  door,  or  thou  be  actually  destroyed 
by  excessive  affliction.  He  answered,  I  only  represent  my 
grief,  which  I  am  not  able  to  contain,  and  my  sorrow  unto 
GOD  ;  but  I  know  by  revelation  from  GOD  that  which  ye 
know  not.  O  my  sons,  go  and  make  inquiry  after  Joseph 
and  his  brother ;  and  despair  not  of  the  mercy  of  GOD  ;  for 
none  despaireth  of  GOD'S  mercy,  except  the  unbelieving 
people.  Wherefore  Joseph's  brethren  returned  into  Egypt: 
and  when  they  came  into  his  presence,  they  said,  Noble  lord, 
the  famine  is  felt  by  us  and  our  family,  and  we  are  come 
with  a  small  sum  of  money :  yet  give  unto  us  full  measure, 
and  bestow  corn  upon  us  as  alms ;  for  GOD  rewardeth  the 
almsgivers.  Joseph  said  unto  them,  Do  ye  know  what  ye  did 
unto  Joseph  and  his  brother,  when  ye  were  ignorant  of  the 
consequences  thereof?  They  answered,  Art  thou  really  Jo- 
seph ?  He  replied,  I  am  Joseph ;  and  this  is  my  brother. 
Now  hath  GOD  been  gracious  unto  us.  For  whoso  feareth 
God,  and  persevereth  with  patience,  shatt  at  length  find  re- 
lief; since  GOD  will  not  suffer  the  reward  of  the  righteous 
to  perish.  They  said,  By  GOD,  now  hath  GOD  chosen  thee 
above  us ;  and  we  have  surely  been  sinners.  Joseph  an- 
swered, Let  there  be  no  reproach  cast  on  you  this  day.  GOD 
forgiveth  you  ;  for  he  is  the  most  merciful  of  those  who  show 
mercy.  Depart  ye  with  this  my  inner  garment,  and  throw 
it  on  my  father's  face ;  and  he  shall  recover  his  sight :  and 
then  come  unto  me  with  all  your  family.  And  when  the 
company  of  travellers  was  departed  from  Egypt  on  their 
journey  towards  Canaan,  their  father  said,  unto  those  who 
were  about  him,  Verily  I  perceive  the  smell  of  Joseph ;  al- 
though ye  think  that  I  dote.  They  answered,  By  GOD,  thou 
art  in  thy  old  mistake.  But  when  the  messenger  of  good 
tidings  was  come  with  Joseph's  inner  garment,  he  threw  it 
ovsr  his  face;  and  he  recovered  his  eyesight.  And  Jacob 
said,  Did  I  not  tell  you  that  I  knew  from  GOD,  that  which 
ye  knew  not  ?  They  answered,  0  father,  ask  pardon  of  our 
sins  for  us,  for  we  have  surely  been  sinners.  He  replied,  I 
will  surely  ask  pardon  for  you  of  my  LORD  ;  for  he  is  gra- 
cious and  merciful.  And  when  Jacob  and  his  family  arrived 
\n  Egypt,  and  were  introduced  unto  Joseph,  he  received  his 
parents  unto  him,  and  said,  Enter  ye  into  Egypt,  by  GOD'S 
favor,  in  full  security.1  And  he  raised  his  parents  to  the 

14 


210  AL  KORAN. 

seat  of  state,  and  they,  together  with  his  brethren,  fell  down 
and  did  obeisance  unto  him.  And  he  said,  0  my  father,  this 
is  the  interpretation  of  my  vision,  which  1  saw  heretofore : 
now  hath  my  LORD  rendered  it  true.  And  he  hath  surely 
been  gracious  unto  me,  since  he  took  me  forth  from  the 
prison,  and  hath  brought  you  hither  from  the  desert ;  after 
that  the  devil  had  sown  discord  between  me  and  my  brethren : 
for  my  LORD  is  gracious  unto  whom  he  pleaseth ;-  and  he  it 
the  knowing,  the  wise  God.  0  LORD,  thou  hast  given  me 
a  part  of  the  kingdom,  and  hast  taught  me  the  interpretation 
of  dark  sayings.  The  Creator  of  heaven  and  earth  !  thou 
art  my  protector  in  this  world,  and  hi  that  which  is  to  come : 
make  me  to  die  a  Moslem,  and  join  me  with  the  righteous. 
This  is  a  secret  history  which  we  reveal  unto  thee,  0  Mo- 
hammed, although  thou  wast  not  present  with  the  brethren  of 
Joseph,  when  they  concerted  their  design,  and  contrived  a 
plot  against  him.  But  the  greater  part  of  men,  although 
they  earnestly  desire  it,  will  not  believe.  Thou  shalt  not 
demand  of  them  any  reward  for  thy  publishing  the  Koran  ;  it 
is  no  other  than  an  admonition  unto  all  creatures.  And 
how  many  signs  soever  there  be  of  the  being,  unity,  and  provi- 
dence of  God,  in  the  heavens  and  the  earth ;  they  will  pasa 
by  them,  and  will  retire  afar  off  from  them.  And  the  greater 
part  of  them  believe  not  in  GOD,  without  being  also  guilty  of 
idolatry.  Do  they  not  believe  that  some  overwhelming  afflic- 
tion shall  fall  on  them,  as  a  punishment  from  GOD  ;  or  that 
the  hour  of  judgment  shall  overtake  them  suddenly,  when 
they  consider  not  its  approach  ?  Say  unto  those  of  Mecca, 
This  is  my  way:  I  invite  you  unto  GOD,  by  an  evident 
demonstration ;  both  I  and  he  who  followeth  me  ;  and,  praise 
be  unto  GOD  !  I  am  not  an  idolater.  We  sent  not  any  apos- 
tles before  thee,  except  men,  unto  whom  we  revealed  our  will, 
and  whom  we  chose  out  of  those  who  dwelt  in  cities.  Will 
they  not  go  through  the  earth,  and  see  what  hath  been  the 
end  of  those  who  have  preceded  them  ?  But  the  dwelling 
of  the  next  life  shall  surely  be  better  for  those  who  fear  God. 
Will  they  not  therefore  understand  ?  Their  predecessors  were 
lorne  with  for  a  time,  until,  when  our  apostles  despaired  of 
their  conversion,  and  they  thought  that  they  were  liars,  our 
help  came  unto  them,  and  we  delivered  whom  we  pleased ; 
but  our  vengeance  was  not  turned  away  from  the  wicked 
people.  Verily  in  the  histories  of  the  prophets  and  their 


AL  KORAN.  Sll 

people,  there  is  an  instructive  example  unto  those  who  arc 
endued  with  understanding.  The  Koran  is  not  a  new  in- 
vented fiction :  but  a  confirmation  of  those  scripture*  which 
have  been  revealed  before  it,  and  a  distinct  explication  of 
everything  necessary  in  respect  either  to  faith  or  practice, 
and  a  direction  and  mercy  unto  people  who  believe. 


CHAPTER  XHL 

Of  TITLED,  THUNDER  ;    REVEALED    AT   MECCA. 
IJT   THB    WAMK    OF    THE    MOST    MERCIFUL   SOD. 

AL.  M.  R.  These  are  the  signs  of  the  book  of  the  Koran: 
and  that  which  hath  been  sent  down  unto  thee  from  thy  LORD 
is  the  truth ;  but  the  greater  part  of  men  will  not  believe.  It 
it  GOD  who  hath  raised  the  heavens  without  visible  pillars ; 
and  then  ascended  his  throne,  and  compelled  the  sun  and  the 
moon  to  perform  their  services ;  every  of  the  heavenly  bodies 
runneth  an  appointed  course.  He  ordereth  att  things.  He 
showeth  his  signs  distinctly,  that  ye  may  be  assured  ye  must 
meet  your  LORD  at  the  last  day.  It  is  he  who  hath  stretched 
forth  the  earth,  and  placed  therein  steadfast  mountains,  and 
rivers  ;  and  hath  ordained  therein  of  every  fruit  two  different 
kinds.  He  causeth  the  night  to  cover  the  day.  Herein  are 
certain  signs  unto  people  who  consider.  And  in  the  earth 
are  tracts  of  land  of  different  natures,  though  bordering  on 
each  other ;  and  also  vineyards,  and  seeds,  and  palm-trees 
springing  several  from  the  same  root,  and  singly  from  distinct 
roots.  They  are  watered  with  the  same  water,  yet  we  render 
some  of  them  more  excellent  than  others  to  eat.  Herein 
are  surely  signs  unto  people  who  understand.  If  thou  dost 
wonder  at  the  infidels  denying  the  resurrection,  surely  won- 
derful is  their  saying,  After  we  shall  have  been  reduced  to 
dust,  shall  we  be  restored  in  a  new  creature  ?  These  are 
they  who  believe  not  in  their  LORD  ;  these  shall  have  collars 
on  their  necks,  and  these  shall  be  the  inhabitants  of  hell  fire 
therein  shall  they  abide  forever.1  They  will  ask  of  thee  to 
hasten  evil  rather  than  good:  although  there  have  already 


212  AL  KORAN. 

been  examples  of  the  divine  vengeance  before  them.  Thj 
LORD  is  surely  endued  with  indulgence  towards  men,  not- 
withstanding their  iniquity;  but  thy  LORD  is  also  severe  in 
punishing.  The  infidels  say,  Unless  a  sign  be  sent  down 
unto  him  from  his  LOUD,  we  will  not  believe.  Thou  art  com- 
missioned to  be  a.  preacher  only,  and  not  a  worker  of  mira- 
ties :  and  unto  every  people  hath  a  director  been  appointed 
GOD  knoweth  what  every  female  beareth  in  her  womb  ;  and 
what  the  wombs  want  or  exceed  of  their  due  time,  or  number 
oj  young.  With  him  is  everything  regulated  according  to  a 
determined  measure.  He  knoweth  that  which  is  hidden,  and 
that  which  is  revealed.  He  is  the  great,  the  most  high.  He 
among  you  who  concealeth  his  words,  and  he  who  proclaim- 
eth  them  in  public ;  he  also  who  seeketh  to  hide  himself  in 
the  night,  and  he  who  goeth  forth  openly  in  the  day,  is  equal 
in  respect  to  the  knowledge  of  God.  Each  of  them  hath 
angels  mutually  succeeding  each  other,  before  him,  and 
behind  him  ;  they  watch  him  by  the  command  of  GOD. 
Verily  GOD  will  not  change  his  grace  which  is  in  men,  until 
they  change  the  disposition  in  their  souls  by  sin.  When 
GOD  willeth  evil  on  a  people  there  shall  be  none  to  avert  it ; 
neither  shall  they  have  any  protector  beside  him.  It  is  he 
who  causeth  the  lightning  to  appear  unto  you,  to  strike  fear, 
and  to  raise  hope,  and  who  formeth  the  pregnant  clouds. 
The  thunder  celebrateth  his  praise,  and  the  angels  also, 
for  fear  of  him.  He  sendeth  his  thunderbolts,  and  striketh 
therewith  whom  he  pleaseth,  while  they  dispute  concerning 
GOD  ;  for  he  is  mighty  in  power.1  It  is  he  who  ought  of 
right  to  be  invoked ;  and  the  idols,  which  they  invoke  besides 
him,  shall  not  hear  them  at  all ;  otherwise  than  as  he  is  heard, 
who  stretcheth  forth  his  hands  to  the  water  that  it  may  as- 
tend  to  his  mouth,  when  it  cannot  ascend  thither  :  the  suppli- 
cation of  the  unbelievers  is  utterly  erroneous.  Whatsoever 
is  in  heaven  and  on  earth  worshippeth  GOD,  voluntarily  or 
of  force  ;  and  their  shadows  also,  morning  and  evening.  Say, 
Who  is  the  LORD  of  heaven  and  earth  ?  Answer,  GOD. 
Say,  Have  ye,  therefore,  taken  unto  yourselves  protectors 
beside  him,  who  are  unable  either  to  help,  or  to  defend  them- 
selves from  hurt  ?  Say,  Shall  the  blind  and  the  seeing  be 
esteemed  equal?  or  shall  darkness  and  light  be  accounted 
khe  same  ?  or  have  they  attributed  companions  unto  GOD 
who  have  created  as  he  hath  created,  so  that  their  creation 


AL  KORAN.  218 

bear  any  resemblance  unto  his  ?  Say,  GOD  is  the  creatoi 
of  all  things  ;  he  is  the  one,  the  victorious  God.  He  causeth 
water  to  descend  from  heaven,  and  the  brooks  flow  according 
to  their  respective  measure,  and  the  floods  bear  the  floating 
froth :  and  from  the  metals  which  they  melt  in  the  fire,  seek- 
ing to  cast  ornaments  or  vessels  for  use,  there  ariseth  a  scum 
like  unto  it.  Thus  GOD  setteth  forth  truth  and  vanity.  But 
the  scum  is  thrown  off,  and  that  which  is  useful  to  mankind 
remaineth  on  the  earth.  Thus  doth  GOD  put  forth  parables. 
Unto  those  who  obey  their  LORD  shall  be  given  the  most  ex- 
cellent reward:  but  those  who  obey  him  not,  although  they 
were  possessed  of  whatever  is  in  the  whole  earth  and  as  much 
more,  they  would  give  it  all  for  their  ransom.  These  will 
be  brought  to  a  terrible  account :  their  abode  shall  be  hell ; 
an  unhappy  couch  shall  it  be  !  Shall  he,  therefore,  who 
knoweth  that  what  hath  been  sent  down  unto  thee  from 
thy  LORD,  is  truth,  be  rewarded  as  he  who  is  blind  ?  The 
prudent  only  will  consider ;  who  fulfil  the  covenant  of  GOD, 
and  break  not  their  contract ;  and  who  join  that  which  GOD 
hath  commanded  to  be  joined,  and  who  fear  their  LORD,  and 
dread  an  ill  account ;  and  who  persevere  out  of  a  sincere 
desire  to  please  their  LORD,  and  observe  the  stated  times  of 
prayer,  and  give  alms  out  of  what  we  have  bestowed  on  them, 
in  secret  and  openly,  and  who  turn  away  evil  with  good :  the 
reward  of  these  shall  be  paradise,  gardens  of  eternal  abode, 
which  they  shall  enter,  and  also  whoever  shall  have  acted 
uprightly,  of  their  fathers,  and  their  wives,  and  their  pos- 
terity :  and  the  angels  shall  go  in  unto  them  by  every  gate, 
taying,  Peace  be  upon  you,  because  ye  have  endured  with 
patience ;  how  excellent  a  reward  is  paradise !  But  as  for 
those  who  violate  the  covenant  of  GOD,  after  the  establishment 
thereof,  and  who  cut  in  sunder  that  which  GOD  hath  com- 
manded to  be  joined,  and  act  corruptly  in  the  earth,  on  them 
shall  a  curse  fatt,  and  they  shall  have  a  miserable  dwelling 
en  hell.  GOD  giveth  provision  in  abundance  unto  whom  he 
pleaseth,  and  is  sparing  unto  whom  he  pleaseth.  Those  of 
Mecca  rejoice  in  the  present  life ;  although  the  present  life, 
in  respect  of  the  future,  is  but  a  precarious  provision.  The 
infidels  say,  Unless  a  sign  be  sent  down  unto  him  from  his 
LORD,  we  will  not  believe.  Answer,  Verily,  GOD  will  lead 
into  error  whom  he  pleaseth,  and  will  direct  unto  himself 
him  who  repenteth,  and  those  who  believe,  and  whose 


214  AL  KORAN. 

hearts  rest  securely  in  the  meditation  of  GOD  ;  shall  not 
men's  hearts  rest  securely  in  the  meditation  of  GOE  ?  They 
who  believe  and  do  that  which  is  right  shall  enjoy  blessed- 
ness, and  partake  of  a  happy  resurrection.  Thus  have  we 
gent  thee  to  a  nation  which  other  nations  have  preceded  unte 
whom  prophets  have  likewise  been  sent,  that  thou  mayest  re 
hearse  unto  them  that  which  we  have  revealed  unto  thee 
even  while  they  believe  not  in  the  merciful  God.  Say  unto 
them,  He  is  my  LORD  ;  there  is  no  GOD  but  he :  in  him  do 
I  trust,  and  unto  him  must  I  return.  Though  a  Koran  were 
revealed  by  which  mountains  should  be  removed,  or  the  earth 
cleaved  in  sunder,  or  the  dead  be  caused  to  speak,  it  would  be 
in  vain.1  But  the  matter  belongeth  wholly  unto  GOD.  Do 
not,  therefore,  the  believers  know,  that  if  GOD  pleased,  he 
would  certainly  direct  all  men  ?  Adversity  shall  not  cease 
to  afflict  the  unbelievers  for  that  which  they  have  committed, 
or  to  sit  down  near  their  habitations,  until  GOD'S  promise 
come ;  for  GOD  is  not  contrary  to  the  promise.  Apostles 
before  thee  have  been  laughed  to  scorn ;  and  I  permitted 
the  infidels  to  enjoy  a  long  and  happy  life :  but  afterwards  I 
punished  them ;  and  how  severe  was  the  punishment  which  I 
inflicted  on  them  f  Who  is  it,  therefore,  that  standeth  over 
every  soul,  to  observe  that  which  it  committeth  ?  They  attrib- 
ute companions  unto  GOD.  Say,  Name  them :  will  ye  de- 
clare unto  him  that  which  he  knoweth  not  in  the  earth  ?  or 
uritt  ye  name  them  in  outward  speech  only  ?  But  the  deceitful 
procedure  of  the  infidels  was  prepared  for  them ;  and  they 
are  turned  aside  from  the  right  path :  for  he  whom  GOD  shall 
cause  to  err,  shall  have  no  director.  They  shall  suffer  a 
punishment  in  this  life;  but  the  punishment  of  the  next 
shall  be  more  grievous :  and  there  shall  be  none  to  protect 
them  against  GOD.  This  is  the  description  of  paradise, 
which  is  promised  to  the  pious.  It  is  watered  by  rivers ;  its 
food  is  perpetual,  and  its  shade  also:  this  shall  be  the  reward 
of  those  who  fear  God.  But  the  reward  of  the  infidels  shall 
be  hell  fire.  Those  to  whom  we  have  given  the  scriptures, 
rejoice  at  what  hath  been  revealed  unto  thee.  Yet  there  are 
some  of  the  confederates  who  deny  part  thereof.  Say  unto 
them,  Verily  I  am  commanded  to  worship  GOD  alone  ;  and 
to  give  him  no  companion :  upon  him  do  I  call,  and  unto 
him  shall  I  return.  To  this  purpose  have  we  sent  down  the 
Koran  a  ruU  of  judgment,  in  the  Arabic  language.  And 


AL  KORAN.  215 

rerily,  if  thou  follow  their  desires,  after  the  knowledge  which 
hath  been  given  thee,  there  shall  be  none  to  defend  or  pro- 
tect thee  against  GOD.  We  have  formerly  sent  apostles 
before  thee,  and  bestowed  on  them  wives  and  children  ;  and 
no  apostle  had  the  power  to  come  with  a  sign,  unless  by  the 
permission  of  GOD.  Every  age  hath  its  book  of  reveler 
tion :  GOD  shall  abolish  and  shall  confirm  what  he  pleaseth. 
With  him  is  the  original  of  the  book.1  Moreover,  whether 
we  cause  thee  to  see  any  part  of  that  punishment  wherewith 
we  have  threatened  them,  or  whether  we  cause  thee  to  die 
before  it  be  inflicted  on  them,  verily  unto  thee  belongeth  preach- 
ing only,  but  unto  us  inquisition.  Do  they  not  see  that  we 
come  into  their  land,  and  straighten  the  borders  thereof,  by  the 
conquests  of  the  true  believers  ?  When  GOD  judgeth,  there 
is  none  to  reverse  his  judgment :  and  he  will  be  swift  in 
taking  an  account.  Their  predecessors  formerly  devised 
subtle  plots  against  their  prophets;  but  GOD  is  master  of 
every  subtle  device.  He  knoweth  that  which  every  soul  de- 
serveth :  and  the  infidels  shall  surely  know,  whose  will  be  the 
reward  of  paradise.  The  unbelievers  will  say,  Thou  art  not 
sent  of  God.  Answer,  GOD  is  a  sufficient  witness  between 
me  and  you,  and  he  who  understandeth  the  scriptures. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

IHTITLED,    ABRAHAM;    REVEALED    AT    MKOCA, 
IX    THE    NAME    OF    THK    MOST    MEHCIFDL   GOD. 

AL.  R.  This  book  have  we  sent  down  unto  thee,  tlat 
hou  mayest  lead  men  forth  from  darkness  into  light,  by  the 
permission  of  their  LORD,  into  the  glorious  and  laudable  way. 
GOD  is  he  unto  whom  belongeth  whatsoever  is  in  heaven  and 
on  earth :  and  woe  be  to  the  infidels,  because  a  grievous  pun- 
ishment waiteth  them  ;  who  love  the  present  life  above  that 
which  is  to  come,  and  turn  men  aside  from  the  way  of  GOD, 
and  seek  to  render  it  crooked :  these  are  in  an  error  far  dis- 
tant/ram the  truth.  We  have  sent  no  apostle  but  with  the 


216  AL  KORAN. 

language  of  his  people,  that  he  might  declare  their  duty 
plainly  unto  them;  for  GOD  causeth  to  err  whom  he 
pleaseth,  and  directeth  whom  he  pleaseth  ;  and  he  is  the 
mighty,  the  wise.  We  formerly  sent  Moses  with  our  signs, 
and  commanded  him  saying,  Lead  forth  thy  people  from 
darkness  into  light,  and  remind  them  of  the  favors  of  GOD  : 
verily  therein  are  signs  unto  every  patient  and  grateful  per- 
son. And  call  to  mind  when  Moses  said  unto  his  people, 
Remember  the  favor  of  GOD  towards  you,  when  he  delivered 
you  from  the  people  of  Pharaoh :  they  grievously  oppressed 
you  ;  and  they  slew  your  male  children,  but  let  your  femalei 
live  :  therein  was  a  great  trial  from  your  LORD.  And  when 
your  LORD  declared  by  the  mouth  of  Moses,  saying,  If  ye  be 
thankful,  I  will  surely  increase  my  favors  towards  you  ;  but 
if  ye  be  ungrateful,  verily  my  punishment  shall  be  severe. 
And  Mo.ses  said,  If  ye  be  ungrateful,  and  all  who  are  in  the 
earth  likewise  ;  verily  GOD  needeth  not  your  thanks,  though 
he  deserveth  the  highest  praise.  Hath  not  the  history  of  the 
nations  your  predecessors  reached  you  ;  namely,  of  the  people 
of  Noah,  and  of  Ad,  and  of  Thamud,  and  of  those  who  suc- 
ceeded them  ;  whose  number  none  knoweth  except  GOD  ? 
Their  apostles  came  unto  them  with  evident  miracles  ;  but 
they  clapped  their  hands  to  their  mouths  out  of  indignation, 
and  said,  We  do  not  believe  the  message  with  which  ye  pre- 
tend to  be  sent ;  and  we  are  in  a  doubt  concerning  the  religion 
to  which  ye  invite  us,  as  justly  to  be  suspected.  Their  apostles 
answered,  Is  there  any  doubt  concerning  GOD,  the  creator 
of  heaven  and  earth  ?  He  inviteth  you  to  the  true  faith  that 
he  may  forgive  you  part  of  your  sins,  and  may  respite  your 
punishment,  by  granting  you  space  to  repent,  until  an  ap- 
pointed time.  They  answered,  Ye  are  but  men,  like  unto 
us :  ye  seek  to  turn  us  aside  from  the  gods  which  our  fathers 
worshipped  :  wherefore  bring  us  an  evident  demonstration 
by  some  miracle,  that  ye  speak  truth.  Their  apostles  replied 
unto  them,  We  are  no  other  than  men  like  unto  you  ;  but 
GOD  is  bountiful  unto  such  of  his  servants  as  he  pleaseth : 
and  it  is  not  in  our  power  to  give  you  a  miraculous  demon- 
stration of  our  mission,  unless  by  the  permission  of  GOD  ; 
in  GOD  therefore  let  the  faithful  trust.  And  what  excuse 
have  we  to  allege,  that  we  should  not  put  our  trust  in  GOD  ; 
since  he  hath  directed  us  our  paths  ?  Wherefore  we  will 
certainly  suffer  with  patience  the  persecution  wherewith  y« 


AL  KORAN.  317 

ihall  afflict  us :  in  GOD  therefore  let  those  put  their  con 
fidence  who  seek  in  whom  to  put  their  trust  And  those  who 
believed  not  said  unto  their  apostles,  We  will  surely  expel 
you  out  of  our  land ;  or  ye  shall  return  unto  our  religion. 
And  their  LORD  spake  unto  them  by  revelation,  saying,  We 
will  surely  destroy  the  wicked  doers  ;  and  we  will  cause  you 
to  dwell  in  the  earth,  after  them.  This  shaU  be  granted  unto 
him  who  shall  dread  the  appearance  at  my  tribunal,  and  shall 
fear  my  threatening.  And  they  asked  assistance  of  God, 
and  every  rebellious  perverse  person  failed  of  success.  Hell 
lieth  unseen  before  him,  and  he  shall  have  filthy  water  given 
him  to  drink  :  he  shall  sup  it  up  by  little  and  little,  and  he 
shall  not  easily  let  it  pass  his  throat  because  of  its  nauseout- 
ness  ;  death  also  shall  come  upon  him  from  every  quarter, 
yet  he  shall  not  die ;  and  before  him  shall  there  stand  pre- 
pared a  grievous  torment.  This  is  the  likeness  of  those  who 
believe  not  in  their  LORD.  Their  works  are  as  ashes,  which 
the  wind  violently  scattereth  in  a  stormy  day :  they  shall  not 
be  able  to  obtain  any  solid  advantage  from  that  which  they 
have  wrought.  This  is  an  error  most  distant  from  truth. 
Dost  thou  not  see  that  GOD  hath  created  the  heavens  and 
the  earth  in  wisdom  ?  If  he  please,  he  can  destroy  you,  and 
produce  a  new  creature  in  your  stead:  neither  will  this  be 
difficult  with  GOD.  And  they  shall  all  come  forth  into  the 
presence  of  GOD  at  the  last  day :  and  the  weak  among  them 
shall  say  unto  those  who  behaved  themselves  arrogantly, 
Verily  we  were  your  followers  on  earth  ;  will  ye  not  there- 
fore avert  from  us  some  part  of  the  divine  vengeance  ?  They 
thatt  answer,  If  GOD  had  directed  us  aright,  we  had  certainly 
directed  you.  It  is  equal  unto  us  whether  we  bear  our  tor. 
inents  impatiently,  or  whether  we  endure  them  with  patience 
for  we  have  no  way  to  escape.  And  Satan  shall  say,  after 
judgment  shall  have  been  given,  Verily  GOD  promised  you 
a  promise  of  truth  :  and  I  also  made  you  a  promise ;  but  I 
deceived  you.  Yet  I  had  not  any  power  over  you  to  compel 
you ;  but  I  called  you  only,  and  ye  answered  me  :  wherefore 
accuse  not  me,  but  accuse  yourselves.  I  cannot  assist  you  ; 
neither  can  ye  assist  me.  Verily  I  do  now  renounce  your 
having  associated  me  with  God  heretofore.  A  grievous  pun- 
ishment is  prepared  for  the  unjust.  But  they  who  shall  have 
believed  and  wrought  righteousness  shall  be  introduced  into 
gardens,  wherein  rivers  flow,  they  shall  remain  therein  for- 


218  AL   KORAN. 

rrtr,  by  the  permission  of  their  LORD  ;  and  their  salutatioi 
therein  shall  be,  Peace  !     Dost  thou  not  see  how  GOD  putteth 
forth  a  parable  ;  representing  a  good  word,  as  a  good  tree, 
whose  root  is  firmly  fixed  in  the  earth,  and  whose  branches 
reach  unto  heaven  ;  which  bringeth  forth  its  fruit  in  all  sea- 
sons, by  the  will  of  its  LORD  ?     GOD  propoundeth  parables 
unto  men,  that  they  may  be  instructed.     And  the  likeness  of 
an  evil  word  is  as  an  evil  tree ;  which  is  torn  up  from  the 
face  of  the  earth,  and  hath  no  stability.1   GOD  shall  confirm 
them  who  believe,  by  the  steadfast  word  of  faith,  both  in  this 
life  and  in  that  which  is  to  come :  but  GOD  shall  lead  the 
wicked  into  error;   for  GOD  doth  that  which  he  pleaseth. 
Hast  thou  not  considered  those  who  have  changed  the  grace 
of  GOD  to  infidelity,  and  cause  their  people  to  descend  into 
the  house  of  perdition,  namely,  into  hell  ?     They  shall  be 
thrown  to  burn  therein  ;  and  an  unhappy  dwelling  shatt  it  be. 
They  also  set  up  idols  as  co-partners  with  GOD,  that  they 
might  cause  men  to  stray  from  his  path.     Say,  unto  them, 
Enjoy  the  pleasures  of  this  life  for  a  time;  but  your  depar- 
ture hence  shall  be  into  hett  fire.     Speak  unto  my  servants 
who  have  believed,  that  they  be  assiduous  at  prayer,  and 
gi^e  alms  out  of  that  which  we  have  bestowed  on  them,  both 
privately  and   in  public;    before  the  day  cometh,  wherein 
there  shall  be  no  buying  nor  selling,  neither  any  friendship. 
It  is  GOD  who  hath  created  the  heavens  and  the  earth ;  and 
causeth  water  to  descend  from  heaven,  and  by  means  thereof 
produceth  fruits  for  your  sustenance :  and  by  his  command 
he  obligeth  the  ships  to  sail  in  the  sea  for  your  service  ;  and 
he  also  forceth  the  rivers  to  supply  your  uses :  he  likewise 
compelleth  the  sun  and  the  moon,  which  diligently  perform 
their  courses,  to  serve  you ;  and  hath  subjected  the  day  and 
the  night  to  your  service.     He   giveth  you  of  everything 
which  ye  ask  him ;  and  if  ye  attempt  to  reckon  up  the  favors 
of  GOD,  ye  shall  not  be  able  to  compute  the  same.     Surely 
man  is  unjust  and  ungrateful.     Remember  when   Abraham 
said,  O  LORD,  make  this  land  a  place  of  security ;  and  grant 
that  I  and  ray  children  may  avoid  the  worship  of  idols  ;  for 
they,  0  LORD,  have  seduced  a  great  number  of  men.    Who- 
ever therefore  shall  follow  me,  he  shall  be  of  me  ;  and  who- 
soever shall  disobey  me,  verily  thou  wilt  be  gracious  and 
merciful.     0  LORD,  I  have  caused  some  of  my  offspring  to 
•ettle  in  an  unfruitful  valley,  near  thy  holy  housfc,  O  LORD, 


AL  KORAN.  219 

that  they  may  be  constant  at  prayer. l  Grant,  therefore,  thai 
the  hearts  of  some  men  may  be  affected  with  kindness  tow- 
ard them  ;  and  do  thou  bestow  on  them  all  sorts  of  fruits, 
that  they  may  give  thanks.  0  LORD,  thou  knowest  what- 
soever we  conceal,  and  whatsoever  we  publish ;  for  nothing 
is  hidden  from  GOD,  either  on  earth  or  in  heaven.  Praise 
be  unto  GOD,  who  hath  given  me,  in  my  old  age,  Israel  and 
Isaac  :  for  my  LORD  is  the  hearer  of  supplication.  O  LORD, 
grant  that  I  may  be  an  observer  of  prayer,  and  a  part  of 
my  posterity  also,  0  LORD,  and  receive  my  supplication. 
O  LORD,  forgive  me,  and  my  parents,  and  the  faithful,  on 
the  day  whereon  an  account  shall  be  taken.2  Think  not,  0 
prophet,  that  GOD  is  regardless  of  what  the  ungodly  do. 
He  only  deferreth  their  punishment  unto  the  day  whereon 
men's  eyes  shall  be  fixed :  they  shall  hasten  forward,  at  the 
voice  of  the  angel  calling  to  judgment,  and  shall  lift  up  their 
heads ;  they  shall  not  be  able  to  turn  their  sight  from  the 
object  whereon  it  shall  be  faced,  and  their  hearts  shall  be 
void  of  sense,  through  excessive  terror.  Wherefore  do  thou 
threaten  men  with  the  day,  whereon  their  punishment  shall 
be  inflicted  on  them,  and  whereon  those  who  have  acted 
unjustly  shall  say,  O  LORD,  give  us  respite  unto  a  term  near 
at  hand  ;  and  we  will  obey  thy  call,  and  we  will  follow  thy 
apostles.  But  it  shall  be  answered  unto  them,  Did  ye  not 
swear  heretofore,  that  no  reverse  should  befall  you  ?  yet  ye 
dwelt  in  the  dwellings  of  those  who  had  treated  their  own  souls 
unjustly ;  and  it  appeared  plainly  unto  you  how  we  had  dealt 
with  them ;  and  we  propounded  their  destruction  as  exam- 
ples unto  you.  They  employ  their  utmost  subtlety  to  oppose 
the  truth  ;  but  their  subtlety  is  apparent  unto  GOD,  who  it 
able  to  frustrate  their  designs  ;  although  their  subtlety  were 
so  great,  that  the  mountains  might  be  moved  thereby.  Think 
not,  therefore,  0  prophet,  that  GOD  will  be  contrary  to  his 
promise  of  assistance,  made  unto  his  apostles ;  for  GOD  it 
mighty,  able  to  avenge.  The  day  will  come,  when  the  earth 
shall  be  changed  into  another  earth,  and  the  heavens  into 
other  heavens  ;  and  men  shall  come  forth  from  their  graves 
to  appear  before  the  only,  the  mighty  Goo.3  And  thou  shall 
see  the  wicked  on  that  day  bound  together  in  fetters :  their 
inner  garments  shall  be  of  pitch,  and  fire  shall  cover  their 
faces ;  that  GOD  may  reward  every  soul  according  to  what 
it  shall  have  deserved  ;  for  GOD  is  swift  in  taking  an  account 


•120  AL   KORAN. 

This  is  a  sufficient  admonition  unto  men,  that  they  may  b« 
warned  thereby,  and  that  they  may  know  that  there  is  but 
one  GOD  ;  and  that  those  who  are  endued  with  understanding 
may  consider. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

INTITLED,   AL    HEJR  ;    REVEALED    AT    MECCA. 
IN    THB    NAMB    OF    THE    MOST    MKROIFUL    GOD. 

AL.  R.  These  are  the  signs  of  the  book,  and  of  the  per- 
•picuous  Koran.  The  time  may  come  when  the  unbelievers 
shall  wish  that  they  had  been  Moslems.  Suffer  them  to  eat, 
and  to  enjoy  themselves  in  thist  world;  and  let  hope  entertain 
them,  but  they  shall  hereafter  know  their  folly.  We  have 
not  destroyed  any  city,  but  a  fixed  term  of  repentance  was 
appointed  them.  No  nation  shall  be  punished  before  their 
time  shall  be  come;  neither  shall  they  be  respited  after.  The 
Meccans  say,  O  thou  to  whom  the  admonition  hath  been  .-flit 
down,  thou  art  certainly  possessed  with  a  devil:  wouldest 
thou  not  have  come  unto  us  with  an  attendance  of  angels,  if 
thou  hadst  spoken  truth  ?  Answer,  We  send  not  down  the 
angels,  unless  on  a  just  occasion ;  nor  should  they  be  then 
respited  any  longer.  We  have  surely  sent  down  the  Koran ; 
and  we  will  certainly  preserve  the  same  from  corruption. 
We  have  heretofore  sent  apostles  before  thee  among  the  an- 
cient sects :  and  there  came  no  apostle  unto  them,  but  they 
laughed  him  to  scorn.  In  the  same  manner  will  we  put  it 
into  the  hearts  of  the  wicked  Meccans  to  scoff"  at  their 
prophet:  they  shall  not  believe  on  him;  and  the  sentence 
of  the  nations  of  old  hath  been  executed  heretofore.  If  we 
should  open  a  gate  in  the  heaven  above  them,  and  they 
should  ascend  thereto  all  the  day  long,  they  should  rather 
say,  Our  eyes  are  only  dazzled ;  or  rather  we  are  a  people 
deluded  by  enchantments.  We  have  placed  the  twelve  signs 
in  the  heaven,  and  have  set  them  out  in  various  figures,  for 
the  observation  of  .spectators :  and  we  guard  them  from  every 
devil  driven  away  with  stones,  except  him  who  listeneth  bj 
•tealth,  at  whom  a  visible  flame  is  darted.1  We  have  alsc 


AL   KORAN.  221 

•pread  forth  the  earth,  and  thrown  thereon  stable  mountains  , 
and  we  have  caused  every  kind  of  vegetable  to  spring  forth  in 
the  same,  according  to  a  determinate  weight :  and  we  have 
provided  therein  necessaries  of  life  for  you,  and  for  him 
whom  ye  do  not  sustain.  There  is  no  one  thing  but  the 
storehouses  thereof  are  in  our  hands ;  and  we  distribute  net 
the  same  otherwise  than  in  a  determinate  measure.  We  also 
gend  the  winds  driving  the  pregnant  clouds,  and  we  send 
down  from  heaven  water,  whereof  we  give  you  to  drink,  and 
which  ye  keep  not  in  store.  Verily  we  give  life,  and  we 
put  to  death :  and  we  are  the  heirs  of  all  things.  We  know 
those  among  you  who  go  before ;  and  we  know  those  who 
stay  behind.  And  thy  LORD  shall  gather  them  together  at 
the  last  day :  for  he  is  knowing  and  wise.  We  created  man 
of  dried  clay,  of  black  mud,  formed  into  shape :  and  we  had 
before  created  the  devil  of  subtle  fire.  And  remember  when 
thy  LORD  said  unto  the  angels,  Verily  I  am  about  to  create 
man  of  dried  clay,  of  black  mud,  wrought  into  shape ;  when, 
therefore,  I  shall  have  completely  formed  him,  and  shall  have 
breathed  of  my  spirit  into  him ;  do  ye  fall  down  and  worship 
him.  And  all  the  angels  worshipped  Adam  together,  except 
Eblis,  who  refused  to  be  with  those  who  worshipped  him. 
And  God  said  unto  him,  0  Eblis,  what  hindered  thee  from 
being  with  those  who  worshipped  Adam?  He  answered,  It  is 
not  fit  that  I  should  worship  man,  whom  thou  hast  created 
of  dried  clay,  of  black  mud,  wrought  into  shape.  God  said, 
Get  thee  therefore  hence :  for  thou  shalt  be  driven  away 
with  stones :  and  a  curse  shall  be  on  thee,  until  the  day  of 
judgment.  The  devil  said,  O  LORD,  Give  me  respite  until 
the  day  of  resurrection:  God  answered,  Verily  thou  shalt 
be  one  of  those  who  are  respited  until  the  day  of  the  ap- 
pointed time.  The  devil  replied,  0  LORD,  because  thou  hast 
seduced  me,  I  will  surely  tempt  them  to  disobedience  in  the 
earth ;  and  I  will  seduce  such  of  them  as  shall  be  thy  chosen 
servants.  God  said,  This  is  the  right  way  with  me.  Verily 
at  to  my  servants,  thou  shalt  have  no  power  over  them ;  but 
over  those  only  who  shall  be  seduced,  and  who  shall  follow 
thee.  And  hell  is  surely  denounced  unto  them  all :  it  hath 
icven  gates  ;  unto  every  gate  a  distinct  company  of  them 
thai/  be  assigned.  But  those  who  fear  God  shall  dwell  in 
gardens,  amidst  fountains.  The  angels  shall  say  unto  them, 
Enter  ye  therein  in  peace  and  security,  and  we  will  remove 


222  A.L  KORAN. 

til  grudges  from  their  breasts ;  they  shall  be  as  brethren,  sit- 
ting  over  against  one  another  on  couches;  weariness  shall 
not  affect  them  therein,  neither  shall  they  be  cast  out  thence 
forever.  Declare  unto  my  servants  that  I  am  the  gracious, 
the  merciful  God;  and  that  my  punishment  is  a  grievous 
punishment  And  relate  unto  them  the  history  of  Abraham's 
guests.  When  they  went  in  unto  him,  and  said,  Peace  be 
unto  thee,  he  answered,  Verily  we  are  afraid  of  you :  and  they 
replied,  Fear  not ;  we  bring  thee  the  promise  of  a  wise  son. 
He  said,  Do  ye  bring  me  the  promise  of  a  son  now  old  age 
hath  overtaken  me  ?  what  is  it  therefore  that  ye  tell  me  ? 
They  said,  We  have  told  thee  the  truth ;  be  not  therefore 
one  of  those  who  despair.  He  answered,  And  who  de- 
spaireth  of  the  mercy  of  GOD,  except  those  who  err  ?  And 
he  said,  What  is  your  errand,  therefore,  0  messengers  of 
God?  They  answered,  Verily  we  are  sent  to  destroy  a 
wicked  people ;  but  at  for  the  family  of  Lot,  we  will  save 
them  all,  except  his  wife ;  we  have  decreed  that  she  shall  be 
one  of  those  who  remain  behind  to  be  destroyed  with  the  infi- 
dels. And  when  the  messengers  came  to  the  family  of  Lot, 
he  said  unto  them,  Verily  ye  are  a  people  who  are  unknown 
to  me.  They  answered,  But  we  are  come  unto  thee  to  execute 
that  sentence,  concerning  which  your  fellow-citizens  doubted : 
we  tell  thee  a  certain  truth ;  and  we  are  messengers  of  vera- 
city. Therefore  lead  forth  thy  family,  in  some  time  of  the 
night ;  and  do  thou  follow  behind  them,  and  let  none  of  you 
turn  back ;  but  go  whither  ye  are  commanded.  And  we 
gave  him  this  command ;  because  the  utmost  remnant  of 
those  people  was  to  be  cut  off  in  the  morning.  And  the  in- 
habitants of  the  city  came  unto  Lot,  rejoicing  at  the  news  of 
the  arrival  of  some  slrangert.  And  he  said  unto  them,  Verily 
these  are  my  guests  :  wherefore  do  not  disgrace  me  by  abus- 
ing them ;  but  fear  GOD,  and  put  me  not  to  shame.  They 
Answered,  Have  we  not  forbidderl  thee  from  entertaining  or 
protecting  any  man  ?  Lot  replied,  These  are  my  daughters  : 
'herefore  rather  make  use  of  them,  if  ye  be  resolved  to  do  what 
ye  purpose.  As  thou  livest  they  wander  in  their  folly. 
Wherefore  a  terrible  storm  from  heaven  assailed  them  at 
sunrise,  and  we  turned  the  city  upside  down  :  and  we  rained 
on  them  stones  of  baked  clay.  Verily  herein  are  signs  unto 
men  of  sagacity :  and  those  cities  were  punished,  to  point  out 
t  right  way  for  men  to  walk  in.  Verily  herein  is  a  sign 


AL  KORAN.  223 

onto  the  true  believers.  The  inhabitants  of  tbe  wood  •near 
Midian  were  also  ungodly.  Wherefore  we  took  vengeance 
on  them.  And  both  of  them  were  destroyed,  to  serve  as  a 
manifest  rule  for  men  to  direct  their  actions  by.  And  the 
inhabitants  of  Al  Hejr  likewise  heretofore  accused  the  mes- 
sengers of  God  of  imposture :  and  we  produced  our  signs 
unto  them,  but  they  retired  afar  off  from  the  same.  And 
they  hewed  houses  out  of  the  mountains,  to  secure  them- 
selves. But  a  terrible  noise  from  heaven  assailed  them  in 
the  morning ;  neither  was  what  they  had  wrought  of  any  ad« 
vantage  unto  them.  We  have  not  created  the  heavens  and 
the  earth,  and  whatever  is  contained  between  them,  other- 
wise than  in  justice:  and  the  hour  of  judgment  shall  surely 
come.  Wherefore  O  Mohammed,  forgive  thy  people  with  a 
gracious  forgiveness.  Verily  thy  LORD  is  the  creator  ofthee 
and  of  them,  and  knoweth  what  is  most  expedient.  We  have 
already  brought  unto  thee  seven  verses  which  are  frequently 
to  be  repeated,  and  the  glorious  Koran.  Cast  not  thine  eyes 
on  the  good  things  which  we  have  bestowed  on  several  of  the 
unbelievers,  so  as  to  covet  the  same :  neither  be  thou  grieved 
on  their  account.  Behave  thyself  with  meekness  towards 
the  true  believers  ;  and  say,  I  am  a  public  preacher.  If  they 
believe  not,  we  witt  inflict  a  like  punishment  on  them,  as  we 
have  inflicted  on  the  dividers,  who  distinguished  the  Koran 
into  different  parts,  for  by  thy  LORD,  we  will  demand  an 
account  from  them  all  of  that  which  they  have  wrought. 
Wherefore  publish  that  which  thou  hast  been  commanded, 
and  withdraw  from  the  idolaters.  We  will  surely  take  thy 
part  against  the  scoffers,  who  associate  with  GOD  another 
god ;  they  shall  surely  know  their  folly.  And  now  we  well 
know  that  thou  art  deeply  concerned  on  account  of  that 
which  they  say ;  but  do  thou  celebrate  the  praise  of  thy 
LORD  ;  and  be  one  of  those  who  worship ;  and  serve  thy 
LOED  until  death  shall  overtake  thee. 


184  AL   KORAJS. 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

IHT1TLKD,    THE    BEE ;    REVEALED    AT    MECCA. 
IN    THE   If  A  ME   OF   THK   MOST   MERCIFUL   GOD. 

THE  sentence  of  GOD  will  surely  come  to  be  executed 
wherefore  do  not  hasten  it.  Praise  be  unto  him!  and  fai 
be  that  from  him  which  they  associate  with  him!  He 
shall  cause  the  angels  to  descend  with  a  revelation  by  his 
command,  unto  such  of  his  servants  as  he  pleaseth,  saying, 
Preach  that  there  is  no  GOD,  except  myself ;  therefore  fear 
me.  He  hath  created  the  heavens  and  the  earth,  to  mani- 
fest his  justice :  far  be  that  from  him  which  they  associate 
with  him  !  He  hath  created  man  of  seed ;  and  yet  behold 
he  is  a  professed  disputer  against  the  resurrection.  He  hath 
likewise  created  the  cattle  for  you  ;  from  them  ye  have 
wherewith  to  keep  yourselves  warm,  and  other  advantages ; 
and  of  them  do  ye  also  eat.  And  they  are  likewise  a  credit 
unto  you,  when  ye  drive  them  home  in  the  evening,  and 
when  ye  lead  them  forth  to  feed  in  the  morning:  and  they 
carry  your  burdens  to  a  distant  country,  at  which  ye  could 
not  otherwise  arrive,  unless  with  great  difficulty  to  your- 
selves ;  for  your  LORD  is  compassionate  and  merciful.  And 
he  hath  also  created  horses,  and  mules,  and  asses,  that  ye 
may  ride  thereon,  and  for  an  ornament  unto  you;  and  he 
likewise  created  other  things  which  ye  know  not.  It  apper- 
taineth  unto  GOD  to  instruct  men  in  the  right  way ;  and 
there  is  who  turneth  aside  from  the  same :  but  if  he  had 
pleased,  he  would  certainly  have  directed  you  all.  It  is  he 
who  sendeth  down  from  heaven  rain  water,  whereof  ye 
have  to  drink,  and  from  which  plants,  whereon  ye  feed 
your  cattle,  receive  their  nourishment.  And  by  means  there- 
of he  causeth  corn,  and  olives,  and  palm-trees,  and  grapes, 
and  all  kinds  of'  fruits,  to  spring  forth  for  you.  Surely 
herein  is  a  sign  of  the  divine  power  and  wisdom  unto  people 
who  consider.  And  he  hath  subjected  the  night  and  the 
day  to  your  service ;  and  the  sun,  and  the  moon,  and  the 
stare,  which  are  compelled  to  serve  by  his  command.  Verily 
herein  are  signs  unto  people  of  understanding.  And  he 


AL   KORAN.  225 

kath  also  given  you  dominion  over  whatever  he  hath  created 
for  you  in  the  earth,  distinguished  by  its  different  color. 
Surely  herein  is  a  sign  unto  people  who  reflect  It  is  he 
who  hath  subjected  the  sea  unto  you,  that  ye  might  eat  fish 
thereout,  and  take  from  thence  ornaments  for  you  to  wear ; 
and  thou  seest  the  ships  ploughing  the  waves  thereof,  that 
ye  may  seek  to  enrich  yourselves  of  his  abundance,  by  com- 
merce ;  and  that  ye  might  give  thanks.  And  he  hath 
thrown  upon  the  earth  mountains  firmly  rooted,  lest  it 
should  move  with  you,  and  also  rivers,  and  paths,  that  ye 
might  be  directed :  and  he  hath  likewise  ordained  marks 
whereby  men  may  know  their  way ;  and  they  are  directed 
by  the  stars.1  Shall  God  therefore,  who  createth,  be  as  he 
who  createth  not  ?  Do  ye  not  therefore  consider  ?  If  ye 
attempt  to  reckon  up  the  favors  of  GOD,  ye  shall  not  be  able 
to  compute  their  number  ;  GOD  is  surely  gracious  and  mer- 
ciful; and  GOD  knoweth  that  which  ye  conceal,  and  that 
which  ye  publish.  But  the  idols  which  ye  invoke,  besides 
GOD,  create  nothing,  but  are  themselves  created.  They 
are  dead,  and  not  living ;  neither  do  they  understand  when 
they  shall  be  raised.  Your  GOD  is  one  GOD.  As  to  those 
who  believe  not  in  the  life  to  come,  their  hearts  deny  the 
plainest  evidence,  and  they  proudly  reject  the  truth.  There 
is  no  doubt  but  GOD  knoweth  that  which  they  conceal  and 
that  which  they  discover.  Verily  he  loveth  not  the  proud. 
And  when  it  is  said  unto  them,  What  hath  your  LORD 
sent  down  unto  Mohammed  ?  they  answer,  Fables  of  ancient 
times.  Thus  are  they  given  up  to  error,  that  they  may  bear 
their  own  burdens  without  diminution  on  the  day  of  resur- 
rection, and  also  a  part  of  the  burdens  of  those  whom  they 
caused  to  err,  without  knowledge.  WiU  it  not  be  an  evil 
\nirden  which  they  shall  bear  ?  Their  predecessors  devised 
plots  heretofore :  but  GOD  came  into  their  building,  to  over- 
throw it  from  the  foundations;  and  the  roof  fell  on  them 
from  above,  and  a  punishment  came  upon  them,  from  whence 
they  did  not  expect.*  Also  on  the  day  of  resurrection  he 
will  cover  them  with  shame ;  and  will  say,  Where  are  my 
companions,  concerning  whom  ye  disputed  ?  Those  unto 
whom  knowledge  shall  have  been  given  shall  answer,  This 
day  shall  shame  and  misery  fall  upon  the  unbelievers.  They 
whom  the  angels  shall  cause  to  die,  having  dealt  unjustly 
with  their  own  souls,  shall  offer  to  make  their  peace  t» 
16 


ZZO  AL  KORAN. 

the  article  of  death,  laying,  We  have  done  no  evil.  But  tht 
angels  shall  reply,  Yea;  verily  GOD  well  knoweth  that 
which  ye  have  wrought :  wherefore  enter  the  gates  of  hell, 
therein  to  remain  forever;  and  miserable  shall  be  the 
abode  of  the  proud.  And  it  shall  be  said  unto  those  who 
shall  fear  God,  What  hath  your  LORD  sent  down  ?  They 
shall  answer,  Good  ;  unto  those  who  do  right  shall  be  given 
An  excellent  reward  in  this  world ;  but  the  dwelling  of  the 
next  life  shall  be  better;  and  happy  shall  be  the  dwelling 
of  the  pious !  namely  gardens  of  eternal  abode,  into  which 
they  shall  enter ;  rivers  shall  flow  beneath  the  same ;  there- 
in shall  they  enjoy  whatever  they  wish.  Thus  will  GOD 
recompense  the  pious.  Unto  the  righteous,  whom  the  angels 
shall  cause  to  die,  they  shall  say,  Peace  be  upon  you  ; 
enter  ye  into  paradise,  as  a  reward  for  that  which  ye  have 
wrought.  Do  the  unbelievers  expect  any  other  than  that  the 
angels  come  unto  them,  to  part  their  souls  from  their  bodies,' 
or  that  the  sentence  of  thy  LORD  come  to  be  executed  on 
them  ?  So  did  they  act  who  were  before  them ;  and  GOD 
was  not  unjust  towards  them  in  that  he  destroyed  them  ; 
but  they  dealt  unjustly  with  their  own  souls :  the  evils  of 
that  which  they  committed  reached  them ;  and  the  divine 
judgment  which  they  scoffed  at  fell  upon  them.  The  idola- 
ters say,  If  GOD  had  pleased,  we  had  not  worshipped  any- 
thing besides  him,  neither  had  our  fathers  :  neither  had  we 
forbidden  anything,  without  him.  So  did  they  who  were 
before  them.  But  is  the  duty  of  the  apostles  any  other 
than  public  preaching?  We  have  heretofore  raised  up  in 
every  nation  an  apostle  to  admonish  them,  saying,  Worship 
GOD,  and  avoid  Taghut.  And  of  them  there  were  some 
whom  GOD  directed,  and  there  were  others  of  them  who  were 
decreed  to  go  astray.  Wherefore  go  through  the  earth, 
0  tribe  of  Koreish,  and  see  what  hath  been  the  end  of 
those  who  accused  their  apostles  of  imposture.  If  thou,  0 
prophet,  dost  earnestly  wish  for  their  direction  ;  verily  GOD 
will  not  direct  him  whom  he  hath  resolved  to  lead  into 
error;  neither  shall  they  have  any  helpers.  And  they 
•wear  most  solemnly  by  GOD,  saying,  GOD  will  not  raise  the 
dead.  Yea;  the  promise  thereof  is  true :-  but  the  greater 
part  of  men  know  it  not.  He  will  raise  them  that  he  may 
clearly  show  them  the  truth  concerning  which  they  now 
disagree,  and  that  the  unbelievers  may  know  that  they  are 


AL  KORAN.  227 

liars.  Verily  our  speech  unto  anything,  when  we  will  the 
same,  it,  that  we  only  say  unto  it,  Be ;  and  it  is  As  for 
those  who  have  fled  their  country  for  the  sake  of  Gor, 
after  they  had  been  unjustly  persecuted ;  we  will  surely 
provide  them  an  excellent  habitation  in  this  world,  but  the 
reward  of  the  next  life  shall  be  greater;  if  they  knew 
it.  They  who  persevere  patiently,  and  put  their  trust  in 
their  LORD,  shall  not  fail  of  happiness  in  this  life  and 
in  that  which  is  to  come.  We  have  not  sent  any  before 
thee,  as  our  apostles,  other  than  men,  unto  whom  we  spake 
by  revelation.  Inquire  therefore  of  those  who  have  the 
custody  of  the  scriptures,  if  ye  know  not  this  to  be  truth. 
We  sent  them  with  evident  miracles,  and  written  revelations  ; 
and  we  have  sent  down  unto  thee  this  Koran,  that  thou 
mayest  declare  unto  mankind  that  which  hath  been  sent 
down  unto  them,  and  that  they  may  consider.  Are  they 
who  have  plotted  evil  against  their  prophet  secure  that  GOD 
will  not  cause  the  earth  to  cleave  under  them,  or  that  a 
punishment  will  not  come  upon  them,  from  whence  they 
do  not  expect ;  or  that  he  will  not  chastise  them  while 
they  are  busied  in  travelling  from  one  place  to  another,  and 
in  traffic  ?  (for  they  shall  not  be  able  to  elude  the  power 
of  God,)  or  that  he  will  not  chastise  them  by  a  gradual 
destruction  ?  But  your  LORD  is  truly  gracious  and  merci- 
ful in  granting  you  respite.  Do  they  not  consider  the  things 
which  GOD  hath  created ;  whose  shadows  are  cast  on  the 
right  hand  and  on  the  left,  worshipping  GOD,  and  become 
contracted*?  Whatever  moveth  both  in  heaven  and  on 
earth  worshippeth  GOD,  and  the  angels  also ;  and  they  are 
not  elated  with  pride,  so  as  to  disdain  his  service:  they 
fear  their  LORD,  who  is  exalted  above  them,  and  perform 
that  which  they  are  commanded.  GOD  said,  Take  not  unto 
yourselves  two  gods ;  for  there  is  but  one  GOD  :  and  revere 
me.  Unto  him  belongeth  whatsoever  is  in  heaven  and  on 
earth ;  and  unto  him  is  obedience  eternally  due.  Will  ye 
therefore  fear  any  besides  GOD  ?  Whatever  favors  ye  have 
received  are  certainly  from  GOD  ;  and  when  evil  afflicteth 
you,  unto  him  do  ye  make  your  supplication  ;  yet  when  he 
taketh  the  evil  from  off  you,  behold,  a  part  of  you  give  a 
companion  untc  their  LORD,  to  show  their  ingratitude  for 
the  favors  we  have  bestowed  on  them.  Delight  yourselves 
in  the  enjoyments  of  this  life :  but  hereafter  shall  ye  know? 


f28  AL  KORAN. 

that  ye  cannot  escape  the  divine  vengeance.  And  they  set 
apart  unto  idols  which  have  no  knowledge  a  part  of  the 
food  which  we  have  provided  for  them.  By  GOD,  ye  shall 
eurely  be  called  to  account  for  that  which  ye  have  falsely 
devised.  They  attribute  daughters  unto  GOD  (far  be  it  from 
him !)  but  unto  themselves  children  of  the  sex  which  they 
desire.  And  when  any  of  them  is  told  the  news  of  the 
Irirth  of  a  female,  his  face  becometh  black,  and  he  is  deeply 
afflicted :  he  hideth  himself  from  the  people,  because  of  the 
ill  tidings  which  have  been  told  him  ;  considering  within 
himself  whether  he  shall  keep  it  with  disgrace,  or  whether 
he  shall  bury  it  in  the  dust.  Do  they  not  make  an  ill 
judgment?  Unto  those  who  believe  not  in  the  next  life, 
[he  similitude  of  evil  ought  to  be  applied,  and  unto  GOD  the 
most  sublime  similitude :  for  he  is  mighty  and  wise.  If 
GOD  should  punish  men  for  their  iniquity,  he  would  not 
leave  on  the  earth  any  moving  thing :  but  he  giveth  them 
respite  unto  an  appointed  time ;  and  when  their  time  shall 
come,  they  shall  not  be  respited  an  hour,  neither  shall  their 
punishment  be  anticipated.  They  attribute  unto  GOD  that 
which  they  dislike  themselves,  and  their  tongues  utter  a 
lie ;  namely,  that  the  reward  of  paradise  is  for  them.  There 
is  no  doubt  but  that  the  fire  of  hell  is  prepared  for  them, 
and  that  they  shall  be  sent  thither  before  the  rest  of  the 
wicked.  By  GOD,  we  have  heretofore  sent  messengers  unto 
the  nations  before  thee :  but  Satan  prepared  their  works 
for  them ;  he  was  their  patron  in  this  world,  and  in  that 
which  is  to  come  they  shall  suffer  a  grievous  torment.  We 
have  not  sent  down  the  book  of  the  Koran  unto  thee,  for 
any  other  purpose,  than  that  thou  shouldest  declare  unto 
them  that  truth  concerning  which  they  disagree  ;  and  for  a 
direction  and  mercy  unto  people  who  believe.  GOD  sendeth 
down  water  from  heaven,  and  causeth  the  earth  to  revive 
after  it  hath  been  dead.  Verily  herein  is  a  sign  of  the 
resurrection  unto  people  who  hearken.  Ye  have  also  in  cat- 
tle an  example  of  instruction :  we  give  you  to  drink  of 
that  which  is  in  their  bellies ;  a  liquor  between  digested 
dregs,  and  blood  ;  namely,  pure  milk,  which  is  swallowed 
with  pleasure  by  those  who  drink  it.  And  of  the  fruits  of 
palm-trees,  and  of  grapes,  ye  obtain  an  inebriating  liquor, 
and  also  good  nourishment.  Verily  herein  is  a  sign  unto 
people  who  understand.  Thy  LORD  spake  by  inspiration 


AL  KORAN.  229 

unto  the  bee,  faying,  Provide  thee  houses  in  the  mountains, 
and  iu  the  trees,  and  of  those  materials  wherewith  men  build 
hives  for  thee :  then  eat  of  every  kind  of  fruit,  and  walk  in 
the  beaten  paths  of  thy  LORD.  There  proceedeth  from  their 
bellies  a  liquor  of  various  color,  wherein  it  a  medicine  for 
men.  Verily  herein  is  a  sign  unto  people  who  consider. 
GOD  hath  created  you,  and  he  will  hereafter  cause  you  to 
die :  and  some  of  you  shall  have  his  life  prolonged  to  a 
decrepit  age,  so  that  he  shall  forget  whatever  he  knew ;  for 
GOD  is  wise  and  powerful.  GOD  causeth  some  of  you 
to  excel  others  in  worldly  possessions :  yet  they  who  are 
caused  to  excel  do  not  give  their  wealth  unto  the  slaves 
whom  their  right  hands  possess,  that  they  may  become  equal 
sharers  therein.  Do  they  therefore  deny  the  beneficence  of 
GOD  ?  GOD  hath  ordained  you  wives  from  among  your- 
selves, and  of  your  wives  hath  granted  you  children  and 
grand-children ;  and  hath  bestowed  on  you  good  things  for 
food.  Will  they  therefore  believe  in  that  which  is  vain,  and 
ungratefully  deny  the  goodness  of  GOD  ?  They  worship, 
besides  GOD,  idols  which  possess  nothing  wherewith  to  sus- 
tain them,  either  in  heaven,  or  on  earth ;  and  have  no  power. 
Wherefore  liken  not  anything  unto  GOD  :  for  GOD  knoweth, 
but  ye  know  not.  GOD  propoundeth  as  a  parable  a  pos- 
sessed slave,  who  hath  power  over  nothing,  and  him  on 
whom  we  have  bestowed  a  good  provision  from  us,  and 
who  giveth  alms  thereout  both  secretly  and  openly:  shall 
these  two  be  esteemed  equal  ?  GOD  forbid !  But  the  greater 
part  of  men  know  it  not.  GOD  also  propoundeth  as  a  par- 
able two  men ;  one  of  them  born  dumb,  who  is  unable  to  do 
w  understand  anything,  but  is  a  burden  unto  his  master 
whithersoever  he  shall  send  him,  he  shall  not  return  with 
any  good  success :  shall  this  man,  and  he  who  hath  his  speech 
and  understanding,  and  who  commandeth  that  which  is  just, 
and  followeth  the  right  way,  be  esteemed  equal  ?  Unto 
GOD  alone  is  the  secret  of  heaven  and  earth  known.  And 
ehe  business  of  the  last  hour  shall  be  only  as  the  twinkling 
of  an  eye,  or  even  more  quick :  for  GOD  is  almighty.  GOD 
hath  brought  you  forth  from  the  wombs  of  your  mothers  ; 
ye  knew  nothing,  and  he  gave  you  the  senses  of  hearing  and 
leeing,  and  understandings,  that  ye  might  give  thanks.  Do 
they  not  behold  the  fowls  which  are  enabled  to  fly  in  the 
»pen  firmament  of  heaven  ?  none  supporteth  them  except 


230  AL  KORAff. 

GOD.     Venly  herein  are  signs  unto  people  who   believe, 
GOD  hath  also  provided  you  houses  for  habitations  for  you ; 
and  hath  also  provided    you   tents  of  the  skins  of  cattle, 
which  ye  find  light  to  be  removed  on  the  day  of  your  depar- 
ture to  new  quarters,  and  easy  to  be  pitched  on  the  day  of  your 
sitting  down  therein:  and  of  their  wool,  and  their  fur,  and 
their  hair,  hath  he  supplied  you  with  furniture  and  house- 
hold-stuff for  a  season.    And  GOD  hath  provided  for  you,  of 
that  which  he  hath  created,  conveniences  to  shade  you  from 
the  sun,  and  he  hath  also  provided  you  places  of  retreat  in 
the  mountains,  and  he  hath  given  you  garments  to  defend 
you  from  the  heat,  and  coats  of  mail  to  defend  you  in  your 
wars.     Thus  doth  he  accomplish  his  favor  towards  you,  that 
ye  may  resign  yourselves  unto  him.     But  if  they  turn  back, 
verily  thy  duty  is  public  preaching  only.      They  acknowl- 
edge the  goodness  of  GOD,  and  afterwards  they  deny  the 
same  ;  but  the  greater  part  of  them  are  unbelievers.      On 
a  certain  day  we  will  raise  a  witness  out  of  every  nation : 
then  they  who  shall  have  been  unbelievers  shall  not  be  suf- 
fered to  excuse  themselves,  neither    shall   they  be  received 
into  favor.     And  when  they  who  shall  have  acted  unjustly 
shall  see  the  torment  prepared  for  them  ;   (it  shall  not  be 
mitigated  unto  them,  neither  shall  they  be  respited)  :    and 
when  those  who  shall  have    been   guilty  of  idolatry  shall 
see  their  false  gods,  they  shall  say,  O  LORD,  these  are  our 
idols  which  we  invoked,  besides  thee.     But  they  shall  return 
an  answer  unto  them,  saying,  Verily  ye  are  liars.     And  on 
that  day  shall  the  wicked  offer  submission  unto  GOD  ;  &nd 
the  false  deities  which  they  imagined  shall  abandon  them. 
As  for  those  who  shall   have  been  infidels,   and  shall  have 
turned  aside  others  from  the  way  of  GOD,  we  will  add   unto 
them  punishment  upon  punishment  because  they  have  cor- 
rupted others.    On  a  certain  day  we  will  raise  up  in  every  na- 
tion a  witness  against  them,  from  among  themselves  ;  and  we 
will  bring  thee,  0  Mohammed,  as  a  witness  against  these  Ara- 
bians.   We  have  sent  down  unto  thee  the  book  of  the  Koran, 
for  an  explication  of  everything  necessary  both  as  to  faith  and 
vractice,  and  a  direction,  and  mercy,  and  good  tidings  unto 
the  Moslems.      Verily  GOD   cominandeth    justice,  and    the 
doing  of  good,  and  the  giving  unto  kindred   what  shall   be 
necessary ;  and  he  forbiddeth  wickedness,  and  iniquity,  and 
oppression:    he  admooisheth    you  that    ye  may  remembo.r.1 


AL  KORAN.  231 

Perform  yout  .xmvenant  with  GOD,  when  ye  enter  into  cov 
enant  with  him  ;  and  violate  not  your  oaths,  after  the  rati 
fication  thereof;  since  ye  have  made  GOD  a  witness  over 
you.  Verily  GOD  knoweth  that  which  ye  do.  And  be  not 
like  unto  her  who  undoeth  that  which  she  hath  spun,  un- 
twisting it  after  she  hath  twisted  it  strongly ;  taking  your 
oaths  between  you  deceitfully,  because  one  party  is  more 
numerous  than  another  party.  Verily  GOD  only  tempteth 
you  therein ;  and  he  will  make  that  manifest  unto  you,  on 
the  day  of  resurrection,  concerning  which  ye  now  disagree. 
If  GOD  had  pleased,  he  would  surely  have  made  you  one 
people  :  but  he  will  lead  into  error  whom  he  pleaseth,  and 
he  will  direct  whom  he  pleaseth  ;  and  ye  shall  surely  give 
an  account  of  that  which  ye  have  done.  Therefore  take 
not  your  oaths  between  you  deceitfully  lest  your  foot  slip, 
after  it  hath  been  steadfastly  fixed,  and  ye  taste  evil  in  thit 
life,  for  that  ye  have  turned  aside  from  the  way  of  GOD  -. 
and  ye  suffer  a  grievous  punishment  in  the  life  to  come. 
And  sell  not  the  covenant  of  GOD  for  a  small  price ;  for 
with  GOD  is  a  better  recompense  prepared  for  you,  if  ye 
be  men  of  understanding.  That  which  is  with  you  will 
fail ;  but  that  which  it  with  GOD  it  permanent :  and  we 
will  surely  reward  those  who  shall  persevere,  according  to 
the  utmost  merit  of  their  actions.  Whoso  worketh  right- 
eousness, whether  he  be  male  or  female,  and  is  a  true  be- 
liever, we  will  surely  raise  him  to  a  happy  life ;  and  we  will 
give  them  their  reward,  according  to  the  utmost  merit  of 
their  actions.  When  thou  readest  the  Koran,  have  recourse 
unto  GOD,  that  he  may  preserve  thee  from  Satan  driven  away 
with  stones  ;  he  hath  no  power  over  those  who  believe,  and 
who  put  confidence  in  their  LORD  ;  but  his  power  is  over 
those  only  who  take  him  for  their  patron,  and  who  give  com- 
panions unto  God.  When  we  substitute  in  the  Koran  an 
abrogating  verse  in  lieu  of  a  verse  abrogated  (and  GOD  best 
knoweth  the  fitness  of  that  which  he  revealeth),  the  infideU 
say,  Thou  art  only  a  forger  of  these  verses :  but  the  greater 
part  of  them  know  not  truth  from  falsehood.  Say,  The  holy 
spirit  hath  brought  the  same  down  from  thy  LORD  with 
truth ;  that  he  may  confirm  those  who  believe,  and  for  a 
direction  and  good  tidings  unto  the  Moslems.  We  also  know 
that  they  say,  Verily,  a  certain  man  teacheth  him  to  compote 
(Ac  Koran.  The  tongue  of  the  person  unto  whom  they  incline 


232  AL  KORAN. 

b  a  foreign  tongue  ;  but  this,  wherein  the  Koran  is  written,  is 
the  perspicuous  Arabic  tongue.1  Moreover  as  for  those  who 
believe  not  the  signs  of  GOD,  GOD  will  not  direct  them,  and 
they  shall  suffer  a  painful  torment:  verily  they  imagine  a 
falsehood  who  believe  not  in  the  signs  of  GOD,  and  they  are 
really  the  liars.  Whoever  denieth  GOD,  after  he  hath  be- 
lieved, except  him  who  shall  be  compelled  against  his  will, 
and  whose  heart  continueth  steadfast  in  the  faith,  shall  be 
teverely  chastised:  but  whoever  shall  voluntarily  profess  in- 
fidelity, on  those  shall  the  indignation  of  GOD  fall,  and  they 
shall  suffer  a  grievous  punishment.2  This  shall  be  theii  sen- 
tence, because  they  have  loved  the  present  life  above  that 
which  is  to  come,  and  for  that  GOD  directeth  not  the  unbe- 
lieving people.  These  are  they  whose  hearts,  and  hearing, 
and  sight,  GOD  hath  sealed  up ;  and  these  are  the  negligent : 
there  is  no  doubt  but  that  in  the  next  life  they  shall  perish. 
Moreover  thy  LORD  will  be  favorable  unto  those  who  have 
fled  their  country,  after  having  suffered  persecution,  and  had 
been  compelled  to  deny  the  faith  by  violence,  and  who  have 
since  fought  in  defence  of  the  true  religion,  and  have  per- 
severed with  patience;  verily  unto  these  will  thy  LORD  be 
gracious  and  merciful,  after  they  shall  have  shown  their  sin- 
cerity. On  a  certain  day  shall  every  soul  come  to  plead  for 
itself,  and  every  soul  shall  be  repaid  that  which  it  shall  have 
wrought ;  and  they  shall  not  be  treated  unjustly.  GOD  pro- 
poundeth  as  a  parable  a  city  which  was  secure  and  quiet,  unto 
which  her  provisions  came  in  abundance  from  every  side ;  but 
she  ungratefully  denied  the  favor  of  GOD  :  wherefore  GOD 
caused  her  to  taste  the  extreme  famine,  and  fear,  because  of 
that  which  they  had  done.  And  now  is  an  apostle  come  unto 
the  inhabitants  of  Mecca  from  among  themselves;  and  they 
•ccuse  him  of  imposture :  wherefore  a  punishment  shall  be 
inflicted  on  them,  while  they  are  acting  unjustly.  Eat  of 
what  GOD  hath  given  you  for  food,  that  which  is  lawful  and 
good ;  and  be  thankful  for  the  favors  of  GOD,  if  ye  serve 
him.  He  hath  only  forbidden  you  that  which  dieth  of  itself, 
and  blood,  and  swine's  flesh,  and  that  which  hath  been  slain 
in  the  name  of  any,  besides  God.  But  unto  him  who  shall 
be  compelled  by  necessity  to  eat  of  these  things,  not  lusting 
nor  wilfully  transgressing,  GOD  will  surely  be  gracious  and 
merciful.  And  say  not  that  wherein  your  tongues  utter  a 
lie ;  This  is  lawful,  and  this  is  unlawful ;  that  ye  may  devise 


A  I.   KORAN.  288 

a  lie  concerning  GOD  :  for  they  who  devise  concerning  GOD 
shall  not  prosper.  They  shall  have  small  enjoyment  in  thit 
world,  and  in  that  which  is  to  come  they  shall  suffer  a  griev- 
ous torment.  Unto  the  Jews  did  we  forbid  that  which  we 
have  told  thee  formerly:  and  we  did  them  no  injury  in  that 
respect;  but  they  injured  their  own  souls.  Moreover  thy 
LORD  will  be  favorable  unto  those  who  do  evil  through  igno- 
rance, and  afterwards  repent  and  amend :  verily  unto  these 
will  thy  LORD  be  gracious  and  merciful,  after  their  repent- 
ance. Abraham  was  a  model  of  true  religion,  obedient  unto 
GOD,  orthodox,  and  was  not  an  idolater :  he  was  also  grateful 
for  his  benefits :  wherefore  God  chose  him,  and  directed  him 
into  the  right  way.  And  we  bestowed  on  him  good  in  this 
world  ;  and  in  the  next  he  shall  surely  be  one  of  the  right- 
eous. We  have  also  spoken  unto  thee,  0  Mohammed,  by 
revelation,  saying,  Follow  the  religion  of  Abraham,  who  was 
orthodox,  and  was  no  idolater.  The  sabbath  was  only  ap- 
pointed unto  those  who  differed  with  their  prophet  concerning 
it ;  and  thy  LORD  will  surely  judge  between  them,  on  the 
day  of  resurrection,  as  to  that  concerning  which  they  differed. 
Invite  men  unto  the  way  of  thy  LORD,  by  wisdom,  and  mild 
exhortation ;  and  dispute  with  them  in  the  most  condescend- 
ing manner  :  for  thy  LORD  well  knoweth  him  who  strayeth 
from  his  path,  and  he  well  knoweth  those  who  are  rightly 
directed.  If  ye  take  vengeance  on  any,  take  a  vengeance 
proportionable  to  the  wrong  which  hath  been  done  you  ;  but 
if  ye  suffer  wrong  patiently,  verily  this  will  be  better  for  the 
patient.  Wherefore,  do  thou  bear  opposition  with  patience  ; 
but  thy  patience  shall  not  be  practicable,  unless  with  GOD'S 
assistance.  And  be  thou  not  grieved  on  account  of  the  unbe- 
liever* ;  neither  be  thou  troubled  for  that  which  they  sub 
tilely  devise ;  for  GOD  is  with  those  who  fear  him,  and  ar* 
•pright. 


234  AL  KORAN. 

CHAPTER  XVH. 

WTITLKD,   THE   NIGHT   JOURNEY;,   REVEALED    AT   MECCA. 
IN   THE   NAME   OF    THE   MOST   MBBCIFDL  GOD. 

PRAISE  be  unto  him  who  transported  his  servant  by 
night,  from  the  sacred  temple  of  Mecca  to  the  farther 
temple  of  Jerusalem,  the  circuit  of  which  we  have  blessed, 
that  we  might  show  some  of  our  signs ;  for  God  is  he  who 
heareth,  and  seeth.  And  we  gave  unto  Moses  the  book  of 
the  law,  and  appointed  the  same  to  be  a  direction  unto  the 
children  of  Israel,  commanding  them,  saying,  Beware  that  ye 
take  not  any  other  patron  besides  me.  O  posterity  of  those 
whom  we  carried  in  the  ark  with  Noah :  verily  he  was  a 
grateful  servant.  And  we  expressly  declared  unto  the  chil- 
dren of  Israel  in  the  book  of  the  law,  saying,  Ye  will  surely 
commit  evil  in  the  earth  twice,  and  ye  will  be  elated  with 
great  insolence.1  And  when  the  punishment  threatened  for 
the  first  of  those  transgressions  came  to  be  executed,  we  sent 
against  you  our  servants,  endued  with  exceeding  strength  in 
war,  and  they  searched  the  inner  apartments  of  your  houses  ; 
and  the  prediction  became  accomplished.  Afterwards  we 
gave  you  the  victory  over  them,  in  your  turn,  and  we  granted 
you  increase  of  wealth  and  children,  and  we  made  you  a 
more  numerous  people,  saying,  If  ye  do  well,  ye  will  do  well 
to  your  own  souls  ;  and  if  ye  do  evil,  ye  will  do  it  unto  the 
same.  And  when  the  punishment  threatened  for  your  latter 
transgression  came  to  be  executed,  we  sent  enemies  against 
you  to  afflict  you,  and  to  enter  the  temple,  as  they  entered  it 
the  first  time,  and  utterly  to  destroy  that  which  they  had 
conquered.2  Perad  venture  your  LORD  will  have  mercy  on 
you  hereafter :  but  if  ye  return  to  transgress  a  third  time,  we 
also  will  return  to  chastise  you  ;  and  we  have  appointed  hell 
to  be  the  prison  of  the  unbelievers.  Verily  this  Koran  direct- 
eth  unto  the  way  which  is  most  right,  and  declareth  unto  the 
faithful,  who  do  good  works,  that  they  shall  receive  a  great 
reward ;  and  that  for  those  who  believe  not  in  the  life  to 
come,  we  have  prepared  a  grievous  punishment.  Man  pray- 
eth  for  evil,  as  he  prayeth  for  good  ;  for  man  is  hasty.3  We 


AL  KORAN.  285 

have  ordained  the  night  and  the  day  for  two  signs  of  our 
power:  afterwards  we  blot  out  the  sign  of  the  night,  and 
we  cause  the  sign  of  the  day  to  shine  forth,  that  ye  may 
endeavor  to  obtain  plenty  from  your  LORD  by  doing  yow 
business  therein,  and  that  ye  may  know  the  number  of  years, 
and  the  computation  of  time  ;  and  everything  necessary  have 
we  explained  by  a  perspicuous  explication.  The  fate  of 
every  man  have  we  bound  about  his  neck ;  and  we  will  pro- 
duce unto  him,  on  the  day  of  resurrection,  a  book  wherein  hit 
actions  shall  be  recorded:  it  shall  be  offered  him  open,  and 
the  angels  shall  say  unto  him,  Read  thy  book  ;  thine  own  soul 
will  be  a  sufficient  accountant  against"  thee,  this  day.1  He 
who  shall  be  rightly  directed,  shall  be  directed  to  the  advan- 
tage only  of  his  own  soul ;  and  he  who  shall  err  shall  err  only 
against  the  same :  neither  shall  any  laden  soul  be  charged 
with  the  burden  of  another.  We  did  not  punish  any  people, 
until  we  had  first  sent  an  apostle  to  warn  them.  And  when 
we  resolved  to  destroy  a  city,  we  commanded  the  inhabitants 
thereof,  who  lived  in  affluence,  to  obey  our  apostle  ;  but  they 
acted  corruptly  therein :  wherefore  the  sentence  was  justly 
pronounced  against  that  city  ;  and  we  destroyed  it  with  an 
utter  destruction.  And  how  many  generations  have  we  con- 
sumed since  Noah  ?  for  thy  LORD  sufficiently  knoweth  and 
seeth  the  sins  of  his  servants.  Whosoever  chooseth  this  tran- 
sitory life,  we  will  bestow  on  him  therein  beforehand  that 
which  we  please ;  on  him,  namely,  whom  we  please  :  after- 
wards will  we  appoint  him  hell  for  his  abode ;  he  shall  be 
thrown  into  the  same  to  be  scorched,  covered  with  ignominy, 
and  utterly  rejected  from  mercy.  But  whosoever  chooseth 
the  life  to  come,  and  directeth  his  endeavor  towards  the 
same,  being  also  a  true  believer ;  the  endeavor  of  these  shall 
be  acceptable  unto  God.  On  all  will  we  bestow  the  blessing* 
of  this  life,  both  on  these  and  on  those,  of  the  gift  of  thy 
LORD  ;  for  the  gift  of  thy  LORD  shall  not  be  denied  unto 
any.  Behold,  how  we  have  caused  some  of  them  to  surpass 
others  in  wealth  and  dignity :  but  the  next  life  shall  be  more 
considerable  in  degrees  of  honor,  and  greater  in  excellence. 
Set  not  up  another  god  with  the  true  GOD,  lest  thou  sit  down 
in  disgrace,  and  destitute.  Thy  LORD  hath  commanded  that 
ye  worship  none  besides  him;  andthat  ye  show  kindness  unto 
your  parentsj  whether  the  one  of  them,  or  both  of  them  attain 
to  old  age  with  thee.  Wherefore,  say  not  unto  them,  Fie  on 


236  AL  KORAN. 

you!  neither  reproach  them,  but  speak  respectfully  unto  them 
and  submit  to  behave  humbly  towards  them,  out  of  tender  af- 
fection and  say,  0  LORD,  have  mercy  on  them  both,  at 
they  nursed  me  when  I  was  little.  Your  LORD  well  know- 
eth  that  which  is  in  your  souls ;  whether  ye  be  men  of  in- 
tegrity :  and  he  will  be  gracious  unto  those  who  sincerely  re- 
turn unto  him.  And  give  unto  him  who  is  of  kin  to  you  his 
due,  and  also  unto  the  poor,  and  the  traveller.  And  waste 
not  thy  substance  profusely  :  for  the  profuse  are  brethren  of 
the  devils :  and  the  devil  was  ungrateful  unto  his  LORD  , 
But  if  thou  turn  from  them,  in  expectation  of  the  mercy 
which  thou  hopest  from  thy  LORD  ;  at  least,  speak  kindly 
unto  them.  And  let  not  thy  hand  be  tied  up  to  thy  neck ; 
neither  open  it  with  an  unbounded  expansion,  lest  thou  be-- 
corne  worthy  of  reprehension,  and  be  reduced  to  poverty 
Verily  thy  LORD  will  enlarge  the  store  of  whom  he  pleaseth, 
and  will  be  sparing  unto  whom  he  pleaseth  ;  for  he  knoweth 
and  regardeth  his  servants.  Kill  not  your  children  for  fear 
of  being  brought  to  want ;  we  will  provide  for  then?  and  for 
you  ;  verily  the  killing  them  is  a  great  sin.  Draw  not  near 
unto  fornication ;  for  it  is  wickedness,  and  an  evil  way. 
Neither  slay  the  soul  which  GOD  hath  forbidden  you  to  slay, 
unless  for  a  just  cause ;  and  whosoever  shall  be  slain  un- 
justly, we  have  given  his  heir  power  to  demand  satisfaction; 
but  let  him  not  exceed  the  bounds  of  moderation  in  putting 
to  death  the  murderer  in  too  cruel  a  manner,  or  by  revenging 
his  friend's  blood  on  any  other  than  the  person  who  killed  him; 
since  he  is  assisted  by  this  law.  And  meddle  not  with  the 
substance  of  the  orphan,  unless  it  be  to  improve  it,  until  he 
attain  his  age  of  strength :  and  perform  your  covenant ;  for 
the  performance  of  your  covenant  shall  be  inquired  into  here- 
after. And  give  full  measure,  when  you  measure  aught; 
and  weigh  with  a  just  balance.  This  will  be  better,  and 
more  easy  for  determining  every  man's  due.  And  follow  not 
that  whereof  thou  hast  no  knowledge ;  for  the  hearing,  and 
the  sight,  and  the  heart,  every  of  these  shall  be  examined  at 
the  last  day.  Walk  not  proudly  in  the  land,  for  thou  canst 
not  cleave  the  earth,  neither  shalt  thou  equal  the  mountains 
in  stature.  All  this  is  evil,  and  abominable  in  the  sight  of  thy 
LORD.  These  precepts  are  a  part  of  the  wisdom  which  thy 
LORD  hath  revealed  unto  thee.  Set  not  up  any  other  god 
<U  equal  unto  GOD,  lest  thou  be  cast  into  hell,  reproved  and 


AL  KORAN.  237 

rejected.  Hath  your  LORD  preferably  granted  unto  you 
eons,  and  taken  for  himself  daughters  from  among  the  an- 
gels. Verily  in  asserting  this  ye  utter  a  grievous  saying. 
And  now  have  we  used  various  arguments  and  repetitions  in 
this  Koran,  that  they  may  be  warned :  yet  it  only  rendereth 
them  more  disposed  to  fly  from  the  truth.  Say  unto  the  idol- 
aters, If  there  were  other  gods  with  him,  as  ye  say,  they  would 
surely  seek  an  occasion  of  making  some  attempt  against  the 
possessor  of  the  throne :  GOD  forbid !  and  far,  very  far,  be 
that  from  him  which  they  utter !  The  seven  heavens  praise 
him,  and  the  earth,  and  all  who  are  therein :  neither  is  there 
anything  which  doth  not  celebrate  his  praise  ;  but  ye  under- 
stand not  their  celebration  thereof:  he  is  gracious  and  merci- 
ful. When  thou  readest  the  Koran,  we  place  between  thee 
and  those  who  believe  not  in  the  life  to  come  a  dark  veil ; 
and  we  put  coverings  over  their  hearts,  lest  they  should 
understand  it,  and  in  their  ears  thickness  of  hearing.  And 
when  thou  makest  mention,  in  repeating  the  Koran,  of  thy 
LOIID  only,  they  turn  their  backs,  flying  the  doctrine  of  hit 
unity.  We  well  know  with  what  design  they  hearken,  when 
they  hearken  unto  thee,  and  when  they  privately  discourse 
together :  when  the  ungodly  say,  Ye  follow  no  other  than  a 
madman.  Behold  !  what  epithets  they  bestow  on  thee.  But 
they  are  deceived  ;  neither  can  iheyjfind  any  just  occasion  to 
reproach  thee.  They  also  say,  After  we  shall  have  become 
bones  and  dust,  shall  we  surely  be  raised  a  new  creature  ? 
Answer,  Be  ye  stones,  or  iron,  or  some  creature  more  im- 
probable in  your  opinions  to  be  raised  to  life.  But  they  will 
say,  Who  shall  restore  us  to  life?  Answer,  He  who  created 
you  the  first  time :  and  they  will  wag  their  heads  at  thee, 
saying,  When  shall  this  be  ?  Answer,  Peradventure  it  is 
nigh.  On  that  day  shall  GOD  call  you.  forth  from  your  sepul- 
chres, and  ye  shall  obey,  with  celebration  of  his  praise,  and 
ye  shall  think  that  ye  tarried  but  a  little  while.  Speak  unto 
my  servants,  that  they  speak  mildly  unto  the  unbelievers,  lest 
ye  exasperate  them ;  for  Satan  soweth  discord  among  them, 
and  Satan  is  a  declared  enemy  unto  man.  Your  LORD  well 
knoweth  you  ;  if  he  pleaseth,  he  will  have  mercy  on  you,  or, 
if  he  pleaseth,  he  will  punish  you  :  and  we  have  not  sent  thee 
to  be  a  steward  over  them.  Thy  LORD  well  knoweth  all  per- 
sons in  heaven  and  on  earth.  We  have  bestowed  peculiar 
favors  on  some  of  the  prophets,  preferably  to  others ;  and  we 


238  AL  KORAN. 

gave  unto  David  the  psalms.  Say,  Call  upon  those  whom  ye 
imagine  to  be  gods  besides  him  ;  yet  they  will  not  be  able  to 
free  you  from  harm,  or  to  turn  it  on  others.  Those  whom  ye 
invoke  do  themselves  desire  to  be  admitted  to  a  near  conjunc- 
tion with  their  LORD  ;  striving  which  of  them  shall  approach 
nearest  unto  him :  they  also  hope  for  his  mercy,  and  dread 
his  punishment ;  for  the  punishment  of  thy  LORD  is  terrible 
There  is  no  city  but  we  will  destroy  the  same  before  the  day 
of  resurrection,  or  we  will  punish  it  with  a  grievous  punish- 
ment. This  is  written  in  the  book  of  our  eternal  decrees. 
Nothing  hindered  us  from  sending  thee  with  miracles,  except 
that  the  former  nations  have  charged  them  with  imposture. 
We  gave  unto  the  tribe  of  Thamud,  at  their  demand,  the  she- 
oamel  visible  to  their  sight:  yet  they  dealt  unjustly  with  her: 
and  we  send  not  a  prophet  with  miracles,  but  to  strike  terror. 
Remember  when  we  said  unto  thee,  Verily  thy  LORD  encom- 
passeth  men  by  his  knowledge  and  power.  We  have  appoint- 
ed the  vision  which  we  showed  thee,  and  also  the  tree  cursed 
in  the  Koran,  only  for  an  occasion  of  dispute  unto  men,  and 
to  strike  them  with  terror ;  but  it  shall  cause  them  to  trans- 
gress only  the  more  enormously.  And  remember  when  we 
said  unto  the  angels,  Worship  Adam ;  and  they  all  worshipped 
him  except  Eblis,  who  said,  Shall  I  worship  him  whom  thou 
hast  created  of  clay  ?  And  he  said,  What  thinkest  thou,  as 
to  this  man  whom  thou  hast  honored  above  me  ?  verily,  if 
thou  grant  me  respite  until  the  day  of  resurrection,  I  will  ex- 
tirpate his  offspring,  except  a  few.  God  answered,  Begone, 
I  grant  thee  respite:  but  whosoever  of  them  shall  follow  thee, 
hell  shall  surely  be  your  reward;  an  ample  reward  for  your 
demerits  !  And  entice  to  vanity  such  of  them  as  thou  canst, 
by  thy  voice ;  and  assault  them  on  all  sides  with  thy  horse- 
men and  thy  footmen  ;  and  partake  with  them  in  their  riches, 
and  their  children ;  and  make  them  promises  ;  (but  the  devil 
shall  make  them  no  other  than  deceitful  promises : )  as  to  my 
servants,  thou  shalt  have  no  power  over  them ;  for  thy  LORD 
is  a  sufficient  protector  of  those  who  trust  in  him.  It  is  your 
LORD  who  driveth  forward  the  ships  for  you  in  the  sea,  that 
ye  may  seek  to  enrich  yourselves  of  his  abundance  by  com- 
merce; for  he  is  merciful  towards  you.  When  a  misfortune 
befalleth  you  at  sea,  the  false  deities  whom  ye  invoke  are  for- 
gotten by  you,  except  him  alone :  yet  when  he  bringeth  you 
•afe  to  dry  land,  ye  retire  afar  off  from  him,  and  return  tt 


AL  KORAN.  239 

your  idols  ;  for  man  is  ungrateful.  Are  ye  therefore  secure 
that  he  will  not  cause  the  dry  land  to  swallow  you  up,  or  thai 
he  will  not  send  against  you  a  whirlwind  driving  the  sands 
to  overwhelm  you  ?  Then  shall  ye  find  none  to  protect  you. 
Or  are  ye  secure  that  he  will  not  cause  you  again  to  commit 
yourselves  to  the  sea  another  time,  and  send  against  you  a 
tempestuous  wind,  and  drown  you;  for  that  ye  have  been 
ungrateful?  then  shall  ye  find  none  to  defend  you  against  us, 
in  that  distress.  And  now  have  we  honored  the  children  of 
Adam  by  sundry  peculiar  privileges  and  endowments;  and 
we  have  given  them  conveniences  of  carriage  by  land  and 
by  sea,  and  have  provided  food  for  them  of  good  things ;  and 
we  have  preferred  them  before  many  of  our  creatures  which 
we  have  created,  by  granting  them  great  prerogatives.  On 
a  certain  day  we  will  call  all  men  to  judgment  with  their  re- 
tpective  leader :  and  whosoever  shall  have  his  book  given  him 
into  his  right  hand,  they  shall  read  their  book  with  joy  ana 
satisfaction;  and  they  shall  not  be  wronged  a  hair.  And 
whoever  hath  been  blind  in  this  life  shall  be  also  blind  in  the 
next,  and  shall  wander  more  widely  from  the  path  of  salva- 
tion. It  wanted  little  but  the  unbelievers  had  tempted  thee 
to  swerve  from  the  instructions  which  we  had  revealed  unto 
thee,  that  thou  shouldest  devise  concerning  us  a  different 
thing ;  and  then  would  they  have  taken  thee  for  their  friend : 
and  unless  we  had  confirmed  thee,  thou  hadst  certainly  been 
very  near  inclining  unto  them  a  little.1  Then  would  we  sure- 
ly have  caused  thee  to  taste  the  punishment  of  life,  and  the 
punishment  of  death ;  and  thou  shouldest  not  have  found  any 
to  protect  thee  against  us.  The  unbelievers  had  likewise  al- 
most caused  thee  to  depart  the  land,  that  they  might  have 
expellrd  thee  thence:  but  then  should  they  not  have  tarried 
therein  after  thee,  except  a  little  while.  This  is  the  method 
»f  dealing  which  we  have  prescribed  ourselves  in  respect  to 
our  apostles,  whom  we  have  already  sent  before  thee :  and 
thou  shall  not  find  any  change  in  our  prescribed  method. 
Regularly  perform  thy  prayer  at  the  declension  of  the  sun, 
at  the  first  darkness  of  the  night,  and  the  prayer  of  day- 
break ;  for  the  prayer  of  daybreak  is  borne  witness  unto  by 
the  angels.  And  watch  some  part  of  the  night  in  the  same 
exercise,  as  a  work  of  supererogation  for  thee :  peradventure 
thy  LORD  will  raise  thee  to  an  honorable  station.  And  say, 
0  LOBD,  cause  me  to  enter  with  a  favorable  entry,  and  cause 


240  AL  KORAN. 

me  to  come  forth  with  a  favorable  coming  forth  ;  and  grant 
me  from  thee  an  assisting  power.  And  say,  Truth  is  come, 
and  falsehood  is  vanished :  for  falsehood  is  of  short  continu- 
ance. We  send  down  of  the  Koran  that  which  is  a  medicine 
and  mercy  unto  the  true  believers ;  but  it  shall  only  increase 
the  perdition  of  the  unjust.  When  we  bestow  favors  on  man, 
he  retireth  and  withdraweth  himself  ungratefully  from  its  : 
but  when  evil  toucheth  him,  he  despaireth  of  our  mercy. 
Say,  Every  one  acteth  after  his  own  manner:  but  your 
LORD  best  knoweth  who  is  most  truly  directed  in  his  way. 
They  will  ask  thee  concerning  the  spirit :  answer,  The  spirit 
was  created  at  the  command  of  my  LORD  :  but  ye  have  no 
knowledge  given  unto  you,  except  a  little.  If  we  pleased,  we 
should  certainly  take  away  that  which  we  have  revealed  unto 
thee ;  in  such  case  thou  couldst  not  find  any  to  assist  thee 
therein  against  us,  unless  through  mercy  from  thy  LORD  ; 
for  his  favor  towards  thee  hath  been  great.  Say,  Verily  if 
men  and  genii  were  purposely  assembled,  that  they  might 
produce  a  book  like  this  Koran,  they  could  not  produce  one 
like  unto  it,  although  the  one  of  them  assisted  the  other. 
And  we  have  variously  propounded  unto  men  in  this  Koran 
every  kind  of  figurative  argument ;  but  the  greater  part  of 
men  refuse  to  receive  it,  merely  out  of  infidelity.  And  they 
say,  We  will  by  no  means  believe  on  thee,  until  thou  cause 
a  spring  of  water  to  gush  forth  for  us  out  of  the  earth ;  01 
thou  have  a  garden  of  palm-trees  and  vines,  and  thou  cause 
rivers  to  spring  forth  from  the  midst  thereof  in  abundance  ; 
or  thou  cause  the  heaven  to  fall  down  upon  us,  as  thou  hast 
given  out,  in  pieces ;  or  thou  bring  down  GOD  and  the  angels 
to  vouch  for  thee ;  or  thou  have  a  house  of  gold ;  or  thou 
ascend  by  a  ladder  to  heaven :  neither  will  we  believe  thy 
ascending  thither  alone,  until  thou  cause  a  book  to  descend 

into  us,  bearing  witness  of  thee,  which  we  may  read.  Answer 
My  LORD  be  praised !  Am  1  other  than  a  man,  sent  m  an 

pustle  ?  And  nothing  hindereth  men  from  believing,  when 
direction  is  come  unto  them,  except  that  they  say,  Hath 
GOD  sent  a  man  for  his  apostle?  Answer,  If  the  angels  had 
walked  on  earth  as  familiar  inhabitants  thereof,  we  had  surely 
sent  down  unto  them  from  heaven  an  angel  for  our  apostle. 
Say,  GOD  is  a  sufficient  witness  between  me  and  you:  for 
he  knoweth  and  regardeth  his  servants.  Whom  GOD  shall 
direct,  he  shall  be  the  rightly  directed ;  and  whom  he  shalj 


AL   KORAN.  241 

cause  to  err,  thou  shalt  find  none  to  assist,  besides  him. 
And  we  will  gather  them  together  on  the  day  of  resurrec- 
tion, creeping  on  their  faces,  blind,  and  dumb,  and  deaf: 
their  abode  shall  be  hell ;  so  often  as  the  fire  thereof  shall 
be  extinguished,  we  will  rekindle  a  burning  flame  to  torment 
them.  This  shall  be  their  reward,  because  they  disbelieve 
in  our  signs,  and  say,  When  we  shall  have  been  reduced  to 
bones  and  dust,  shall  we  surely  be  raised  new  creatures  ? 
Do  they  not  perceive  that  GOD,  who  created  the  heavens 
and  the  earth,  it  able  to  create  other  bodies,  like  their  present  f 
And  he  hath  appointed  them  a  limited  term  ;  there  is  no 
doubt  thereof:  but  the  ungodly  reject  the  truth,  merely  out 
of  unbelief.  Say,  If  ye  possessed  the  treasures  of  the  mercy 
of  my  LORD,  ye  would  surely  refrain  from  using  them,  for 
fear  of  spending  them  ;  for  man  is  covetous.  We  heretofore 
gave  unto  Moses  the  power  of  working  nine  evident  signs.1 
And  do  thou  ask  the  children  of  Israel,  as  to  the  story  of 
Moses ;  when  he  came  unto  them,  and  Pharaoh  said  unto 
him,  Verily  I  esteemed  thee,  O  Moses,  to  be  deluded  by 
sorcery.  Moses  answered,  Thou  well  knowest  that  none 
hath  sent  down  these  evident  signs  except  the  LORD  of 
heaven  and  earth ;  and  I  surely  esteem  thee,  O  Pharaoh, 
a  lost  man.  Wherefore  Pharaoh  sought  to  drive  them  out 
of  the  land ;  but  we  drowned  him  and  all  those  who  were 
with  him.  And  we  said  unto  the  children  of  Israel,  after 
his  destruction,  Dwell  ye  in  the  land :  and  when  the  promise 
of  the  next  life  shall  come  to  be  fulfilled,  we  will  bring  you 
loth  promiscuously  to  judgment.  We  have  sent  down  tJte 
Koran  with  truth,  and  it  hath  descended  with  truth :  and 
we  have  not  sent  thee  otherwise  than  to  be  a  bearer  of  good 
tidings,  and  a  denouncer  of  threats.  And  we  have  divided 
the  Koran,  revealing  it  by  parcels,  that  thou  mightest  read 
it  unto  men  with  deliberation  :  and  we  have  sent  it  down, 
causing  it  to  descend  as  occasion  required.  Say,  Whether 
ye  believe  therein,  or  do  not  believe,  verily  those  who  have 
been  favored  with  the  knowledge  of  the  scriptures  which  were 
revealed  before  it,  when  the  same  is  rehearsed  unto  them,  fall 
down  on  their  faces,  worshipping,  and  say,  Our  LORD  be 
praised,  for  that  the  promise  of  our  LORD  is  surely  fulfilled ! 
and  they  fall  down  on  their  faces,  weeping;  and  the  hearing 
thereof  increaseth  their  humility.  Say,  call  upon  GOD,  or 
call  on  the  Merciful :  by  whichsoever  of  the  two  namet  ye 
If 


242  AL  KORAN. 

invoke  Awn,  it  is  equal;  for  he  hath  most  excellent  names. 
Pronounce  not  thy  prayer  aloud,  neither  pronounce  it  with 
too  low  a  voice,  but  follow  a  middle  way  between  these :  and 
say,  Praise  be  unto  GOD,  who  hath  not  begotten  any  child ; 
who  hath  no  partner  in  the  kingdom,  nor  hath  any  to  protect 
him  from  contempt:  and  magnify  him  by  proclaiming  hi* 
greatness. 


CHAPTER  XVIIL 

nrnrLED,  THE  GATE;  REVEALED  AT  MECCA. 

IK  THK  NAME  OF  THE  MOST  MERCIFUL  GOD. 

PBAISE  be  unto  GOD,  who  hath  sent  down  unto  his  ser- 
vant the  book  of  the  Koran,  and  hath  not  inserted  therein 
any  crookedness,  but  hath  made  it  a  straight  rule:  that  he 
should  threaten  a  grievous  punishment  unto  the  unbelievers, 
from  his  presence ;  and  should  bear  good  tidings  unto  the 
faithful,  who  work  righteousness,  that  they  should  receive  an 
excellent  reward,  namely,  paradise,  wherein  they  shall  remain 
forever :  and  that  he  should  warn  those  who  say,  GOD  hath 
begotten  issue ;  of  which  matter  they  have  no  knowledge, 
neither  had  their  fathers.  A  grievous  saying  it  is,  which 
proceedeth  from  their  mouths :  they  speak  no  other  than  a 
lie.  Peradventure  thou  wilt  kill  thyself  with  grief  after 
them,  out  of  thy  earnest  zeal  for  their  conversion,  if  they  be- 
lieve not  in  this  new  revelation  of  the  Koran.  Verily  we 
have  ordained  whatsoever  is  on  the  earth  for  the  ornament 
thereof,  that  we  might  make  trial  of  men,  and  see  which  of 
them  excelleth  in  works :  and  we  will  surely  reduce  what 
ever  is  thereon  to  dry  dust.  Dost  thou  consider  that  the 
companions  of  the  cave,  and  Al  Kakim,  were  one  of  our  signs, 
and  a  great  miracle?1  When  the  young  men  took  refuge  in 
the  cave,  they  said,  O  LORD,  grant  us  mercy  from  before 
thee,  and  dispose  our  business  for  us  to  a  right  issue.  Where- 
fore we  struck  their  ears  with  deafness,  so  that  they  slept  with- 
out disturbance  in  the  cave  for  a  great  number  of  years :  then 
we  awaked  them,  that  we  might  know  which  of  the  two  par- 
ties was  more  exact  in  computing  the  space  which  they  had 


AL  KORAN.  243 

remained  there.  We  will  relate  unto  thee  their  history  with 
truth.  Verily  they  were  young  men  who  had  helieved  in 
their  LORD  :  and  we  had  abundantly  directed  them :  and  we 
fortified  their  hearts  with  constancy  when  they  stood  before 
the  tyrant ;  and  they  said,  Our  LORD  is  the  LORD  of  heaven 
ind  earth :  we  will  by  no  means  call  on  any  god  besides  him ; 
for  then  should  we  surely  utter  an  extravagance.  These 
our  fellow  people  have  taken  other  gods,  besides  him;  although 
they  bring  no  demonstrative  argument  for  them :  and  who  is 
more  unjust  than  he  who  deviseth  a  lie  concerning  GOD? 
And  they  said  the  one  to  the  other,  When  ye  shall  separate 
yourselves  from  them,  and  from  the  deities  which  they  wor- 
ship, except  GOD,  fly  into  the  cave :  your  LORD  will  pour 
his  mercy  on  you  abundantly,  and  will  dispose  your  business 
for  you  to  advantage.  And  thou  mightest  have  seen  the  sun, 
when  it  had  risen,  to  decline  from  their  cave  towards  the 
right  hand,  and  when  it  went  down,  to  leave  them  on  the  left 
hand :  and  they  were  in  the  spacious  part  of  the  cave.  This 
was  one  of  the  signs  of  GOD.  Whomsoever  GOD  shall 
direct,  he  shall  be  rightly  directed :  and  whomsoever  he  shall 
cause  to  err,  thou  shalt  not  find  any  to  defend,  or  to  direct. 
And  thou  wouldest  have  judged  them  to  have  been  awake, 
while  they  were  sleeping ;  and  we  caused  them  to  turn  them- 
selves to  the  right  hand,  and  to  the  left.  And  their  dog 
stretched  forth  his  forelegs  in  the  mouth  of  the  cave :  if  thou 
hadst  come  suddenly  upon  them,  verily  thou  wouldest  have 
turned  thy  back  and  fled  from  them,  and  thou  wouldest  have 
been  filled  with  fear  at  the  sight  of  them.1  And  so  we  awaked 
them  from  their  sleep,  that  they  might  ask  questions  of  one 
another.  One  of  them  spake  and  said,  How  long  have  ye 
tari  led  here  ?  They  answered,  We  have  tarried  a  day,  or 
part  of  a  day.  The  others  said,  Your  LORD  best  knoweth 
the  time  ye  have  tarried :  and  now  send  one  of  you  with  this 
your  money  into  the  city ;  and  let  him  see  which  of  its  in- 
habitants hath  the  best  and  cheapest  food,  and  let  him  bring 
you  provision  from  him ;  and  let  him  behave  circumspectly, 
and  not  discover  you  to  any  one.  Verily  if  they  come  up 
against  you,  they  will  stone  you,  or  force  you  to  return  to 
their  religion ;  and  then  shall  ye  not  prosper  forever.  And 
so  we  made  their  people  acquainted  with  what  had  happened 
to  them ;  that  they  might  know  that  the  promise  of  Goo  is 
true,  and  that  there  is  no  doubt  of  the  last  hour ;  when  they 


244  AL  KORAN. 

disputed  among  themselves  concerning  their  matter.  And 
they  said,  Erect  a  building  over  them:  their  LOKD  best 
knoweth  their  condition.  Those  who  prevailed  in  their  affair 
answered,  We  will  surely  build  a  chapel  over  them.  Some 
eay,  The  sleepers  were  three ;  and  their  dog  was  the  fourth ; 
Atid  others  say,  They  were  five ;  and  their  dog  was  the  sixth  ; 
guessing  at  a  secret  matter :  and  others  say,  They  were  seven 
and  their  dog  was  the  eighth.  Say,  My  LORD  best  knoweth 
their  number :  none  shall  know  them,  except  a  few.  Where- 
fore dispute  not  concerning  them,  except  with  a  clear  dispu- 
tation, according  to  what  hath  been  revealed  unto  thee :  and 
ask  not  any  of  the  Christians  concerning  them.  Say  not  of 
any  matter,  I  will  surely  do  this  to-morrow  ;  unless  thou  add, 
If  GOD  please.  And  remember  thy  LORD,  when  thou  for- 
gettest,  and  say,  My  LORD  is  able  to  direct  me  with  ease, 
that  I  may  draw  near  unto  the  truth  of  this  matter  rightly. 
And  they  remained  in  their  cave  three  hundred  years,  and 
nine  years  over.1  Say,  GOD  best  knoweth  how  long  they  con- 
tinued there:  unto  him  are  the  secrets  of  heaven  and  earth 
known  ;  do  thou  make  him  to  see  and  to  hear.  The  inhabi- 
tants thereof  have  no  protector  besides  him  ;  neither  doth  he 
suffer  any  one  to  have  a  share  in  the  establishment  or  knowl- 
edge of  his  decree.  Read  that  which  hath  been  revealed 
unto  thee,  of  the  book  of  thy  LORD,  without  presuming  to 
make  any  change  therein:  there  is  none  who  hath  power 
to  change  his  words ;  and  thou  shalt  not  find  any  to  fly  to, 
besides  him,  if  thou  attempt  it.  Behave  thyself  with  con- 
stancy towards  those  who  call  upon  their  LORD  morning  and 
evening,  and  who  seek  his  favor ;  and  let  not  thine  eyes  be 
turned  away  from  them,  seeking  the  pomp  of  this  life ;  neither 
obey  him  whose  heart  we  have  caused  to  neglect  the  remem- 
brance of  us,  and  who  followeth  his  lusts,  and  leaveth  the 
truth  behind  him.  And  say,  The  truth  is  from  your  LORD  ; 
wherefof-e  let  him  who  will,  believe,  and  let  him  who  will,  be 
incredulous.  We  have  surely  prepared  for  the  unjust  hell 
fire,  the  flame  and  smoke  whereof  shall  surround  him  like  a 
pavilion :  and  if  they  beg  relief,  they  shall  be  relieved  with 
water  like  molten  brass,  which  shall  scald  their  faces  ;  O  how 
miserable  a  potion,  and  how  unhappy  a  couch  !  As  to  those 
who  believe,  and  do  good  works,  we  will  not  suffer  the  re- 
ward of  him  who  shall  work  righteousness  to  perish ;  for 
them  are  prepared  gardens  of  eternal  abode,  which  shall  be 


AL    KORAN.  245 

watered  by  rivers  ;  they  shall  be  adorned  therein  with  brace- 
lets of  gold,  and  they  shall  be  clothed  in  green  garments  of 
fine  silk  and  brocades ;  reposing  themselves  therein  on  thrones 

0  how  happy  a  reward,  and  how  easy  a  couch !     And  pro- 
pound unto  them  as  a  parable  two  men  :  on  the  one  of  whom 
we  had  bestowed  two  vineyards,  and  had  surrounded  them 
with  palm-trees,  and  had  caused  corn  to  grow  between  them. 
Each  of  the  gardens  brought  forth  its  fruit  every  season,  and 
failed  not  at  all ;  and  we  caused  a  river  to  flow  in  the  midst 
thereof:  and  he  had  great  abundance.     And  he  said  unto 
his  companion  by  way  of  debate,  I  am  superior  to  thee  in 
wealth,  and  have  a  more  powerful  family.     And  he  went  into 
his  garden,  being  guilty  of  injustice  against  his  own  soul,  and 
said,  I  do  not  think  that  this  garden  will  decay  forever ;  nei- 
ther do  I  think  that  the  last  hour  will  come :  and  although  I 
should  return  unto  my  LORD,  verily  I  shall  find  a  better 
garden  than  this  in  exchange.     And  his  companion  said  unto 
him,  by  way  of  debate,  Dost  thou  not  believe  in  him  who 
created  thee  of  the  dust,  and  afterwards  of  seed ;  and  then 
fashioned  thee  into  a  perfect  man  ?     But  as  for  me,  GOD  is 
my  LORD  ;  and  I  will  not  associate  any  other  deity  with  my 
LORD.     And  when  thou  enterest  thy  garden,  wilt  thou  not 
say,  What  GOD  pleaseth  shall  come  to  pass;  there  is  no 
power  but  in  GOD  alone?     Although  thou  seest  me  to  be 
inferior  to  thee  in  wealth  and  number  of  children,  my  LORD 
is  well  able  to  bestow  on  me  a  better  gift  than  thy  garden, 
and  to  shoot  his  arrows  against  the  same  from  heaven,  so 
that  it  shall  become  barren  dust ;  or  its  water  may  sink  deep 
into  the  earth,  that  thou  canst  not  draw  thereof.     And  his 
possessions  were  encompassed  with  destruction,  as  his  com- 
panion had  forewarned  him ;  wherefore  he  began  to  turn 
down  the  palms  of  his  hands  out  of  sorrow  and  regret  for  that 
which  he  had  expended  thereon ;  for  the  vines  thereof  were 
fallen  down  on  their  trails:  and  he  said,  Would  to  GOD  that 

1  had  not  associated  any  other  deity  with  my  LORD  !     And 
be  had  no  party  to  assist  him  besides  GOD,  neither  was  he 
able  to  defend  himself  against  his  vengeance.     In  such  case 
protection  belongeth  of  right  unto  GOD  alone  ;  he  is  the  best 
rewarder,  and  the  best  giver  of  success.     And  propound  to 
them  a  similitude  of  the  present  life.     It  is  like  water  which 
we  send  down  from  heaven ;  and  the  herb  of  the  earth  ia 
mixed  therewith,  and  after  it  hath  been  green  and  flourishinyt 


246  AL  KOBA17. 

in  the  morn'ng  it  becometh  dry  stubble,  which  the  winds 
scatter  abroad :  and  GOD  is  able  to  do  all  things.  Wealth 
and  children  are  the  ornament  of  this  present  life :  but  good 
works,  which  are  permanent,  are  better  in  the  sight  of  thy 
LORD,  with  respect  to  the  reward,  and  better  with  respect  to 
hope.  On  a  certain  day  we  will  cause  the  mountains  to  pass 
away,  and  thou  shalt  see  the  earth  appearing  plain  and  even ; 
and  we  will  gather  mankind  together,  and  we  will  not  leave 
any  ore  of  them  behind.  And  they  shall  be  set  before  thy 
LORD  in  distinct  order,  and  he  shall  say  unto  them,  Now  are 
ye  con??  unto  us  naked,  as  we  created  you  the  first  time 
but  ye  thought  that  we  should  not  perform  our  promise  unto 
you.  And  the  book  wherein  every  one's  actions  are  recorded 
shall  be  put  into  his  hand ;  and  thou  shalt  see  the  wicked  in 
great  terror,  because  of  that  which  is  written  therein,  and 
they  shall  say,  Alas  for  as!  what  meaneth  this  book?  it 
omitteth  neither  a  small  action  nor  a  great  one,  but  it  com- 
priseth  the  same ;  and  they  shall  find  that  which  they  have 
wrought,  present  before  their  eyes:  and  thy  LORD  will  not 
deal  unjustly  with  any  one.  Remember  when  we  said  unto 
the  angels,  Worship  ye  Adam :  and  they  att  worshipped  him, 
except  Eblis,  who  was  one  of  the  genii,  and  departed  from 
the  command  of  his  LORD.  Will  ye  therefore  take  him  and 
his  offspring  for  your  patrons  besides  me,  notwithstanding 
they  are  your  enemies  ?  Miserable  shall  such  a  change  be 
to  the  ungodly  !  I  called  not  them  to  be  present  at  the  crea- 
tion of  the  heavens  and  of  the  earth,  nor  at  the  creation  of 
themselves,  neither  did  I  take  those  seducers  for  my  assist- 
ants. On  a  certain  day,  God  shall  say  unto  the  idolaters, 
Call  those  whom  ye  imagined  to  be  my  companions,  to  protect 
you:  »r,d  they  shall  call  them,  but  they  shall  not  answer 
them;  and  we  will  place  a  valley  of  destruction  between 
them :  and  the  wicked  shall  see  hell  fire :  and  they  shall  know 
that  they  shall  be  thrown  into  the  same,  and  they  shall  find 
no  way  to  avoid  it.  And  now  have  we  variously  propounded 
unto  men  in  this  Koran,  a  parable  of  every  kind ;  but  man 
cavilleth  *t  most  things  therein.  Yet  nothing  hindereth  men 
from  believing,  now  a  direction  is  come  unto  them,  and  from 
asking  pardon  of  their  LORD,  excepting  that  they  wait  until 
the  punishment  of  their  predecessors  come  to  be  inflicted  on 
them,  or  that  the  chastisement  of  the  next  life  come  upon 
them  publicly.  We  send  not  our  messengers,  but  to  bear 


AL   KORAN.  247 

good  tidings,  and  to  denounce  threats.  Those  who  believe 
not  dispute  with  vain  arguments,  that  they  may  thereby 
render  the  truth  of  no  effect ;  and  they  hold  my  signs,  and 
the  admonitions  which  have  been  made  them,  in  derision. 
And  who  is  more  unjust  than  he  who  hath  been  acquainted 
with  the  signs  of  his  LORD,  and  retireth  afar  off  from  the 
same,  and  forgetteth  that  which  his  hands  have  formerly 
committed  ?  Verily  we  have  cast  veils  over  their  hearts,  lest 
they  should  understand  the  Koran,  and  into  their  ears  thick- 
ness of  hearing :  if  thou  invite  them  to  the  true  direction,  yet 
will  they  not  therefore  be  directed  forever.  Thy  LOBD  it 
gracious,  endued  with  mercy;  if  he  would  have  punished 
them  for  that  which  they  have  committed,  he  would  doubtless 
have  hastened  their  punishment :  but  a  threat  hath  been  de- 
nounced against  them,  and  they  shall  find  no  refuge,  besides 
him.  And  those  former  cities  did  we  destroy,  when  they 
acted  unjustly ;  and  we  gave  them  previous  warning  of  their 
destruction.  And  remember  when  Moses  said  unto  his  ser- 
vant Joshua  the  son  of  Nun,  I  will  not  cease  to  go  forward, 
until  I  come  to  the  place  where  the  two  seas  meet ;  or  I  will 
travel  for  a  long  space  of  time.1  But  when  they  were  arrived  at 
the  meeting  of  the  two  seas,  they  forgot  their  fish,  which  they 
had  taken  with  them  ;  and  the  jlsh  took  its  way  freely  in  the 
sea.  And  when  they  had  passed  beyond  that  place,  Moses 
said  unto  his  servant.  Bring  us  our  dinner ;  for  now  are  we 
fatigued  with  this  our  journey.  His  servant  answered,  Dost 
thou  know  what  hat  befallen  me?  When  we  took  up  our 
lodging  at  the  rock,  verily  I  forgot  the  fish :  and  none  made 
me  to  forget  it,  except  Satan,  that  I  should  not  remind  thee 
of  it.  And  the  Jish  took  its  way  into  the  sea,  in  a  wonderful 
manner.  Moses  said,  This  is  what  we  sought  after.  And 
they  both  went  back,  returning  by  the  way  they  came.  And 
coming  to  the  rock  they  found  one  of  our  servants,  unto  whom 
we  had  granted  mercy  from  us,  and  whom  we  had  taught 
wisdom  from  before  us.  And  Moses  said  unto  him,  Shall  I 
follow  thee,  that  thou  mayest  teach  me  part  of  that  which 
thou  hast  been  taught,  for  a  direction  unto  me?  He  an- 
swered, Verily  thou  canst  not  bear  with  me :  for  how  canst 
thou  patiently  suffer  those  things,  the  knowledge  whereof 
thou  dost  not  comprehend  ?  Moses  replied,  Thou  shall  find 
me  patient,  if  GOD  please ;  neither  will  I  be  disobedient  unto 
Ibee  in  anything.  He  said,  If  thou  follow  me,  therefore,  ask 


848  AL   KORAN. 

me  flot  concerning  anything,  until  I  shall  declare  the  mean 
ing  thereof  unto  thee.  So  they  both  went  on  by  the  sea-shor^ 
until  they  went  up  into  a  ship ;  and  he  made  a  hole  therein. 
And  Moses  said  unto  him,  Hast  thou  made  a  hole  therein, 
that  thou  mightest  drown  those  who  are  on  board  ?  now  hast 
thou  done  a  strange  thing.  He  answered,  Did  I  not  tell  thee 
that  thou  couldst  not  bear  with  me  ?  Moses  said,  Rebuke  me 
not,  because  I  did  forget ;  and  impose  not  on  me  a  difficulty  in 
what  I  am  commanded.  Wherefore  they  left  the  ship  and 
proceeded,  until  they  met  with  a  youth ;  and  he  slew  him. 
Muses  said,  Hast  thou  slain  an  innocent  person,  without  ku 
having  killed  another?  now  hast  thou  committed  an  unjust 
action.  He  answered,  Did  I  not  tell  thee  that  thou  couldest 
not  bear  with  me?  Moses  said,  If  I  ask  thee  concerning 
anything  hereafter,  suffer  me  not  to  accompany  thee:  now 
hast  thou  received  an  excuse  from  me.  They  went  forwards, 
therefore,  until  they  came  to  the  inhabitants  of  a  certain  city  : 
and  they  asked  food  of  the  inhabitants  thereof;  but  they  re- 
fused to  receive  them.  And  they  found  therein  a  wall,  which 
was  ready  to  fall  down ;  and  he  set  it  upright.  Whereupon 
Moses  said  unto  him,  If  thou  wouldest  thou  mightest  doubt- 
less have  received  a  reward  for  it.  He  answered,  This  shall 
be  a  separation  between  me  and  thee  ;  but  I  willjtrst  declare 
unto  thee  the  signification  of  that  which  thou  couldest  no' 
bear  with  patience.  The  vessel  belonged  to  certain  poa 
men,  who  did  their  business  in  the  sea :  and  I  was  minded  to 
render  it  unserviceable,  because  there  was  a  king  behind 
them,  who  took  every  sound  ship  by  force.  As  to  the  youth, 
his  parents  were  true  believers ;  and  we  feared,  lest  he,  bein$ 
an  unbeliever,  should  oblige  them  to  suffer  his  perverseness 
and  ingratitude :  wherefore  we  desired  that  their  LORD  might 
give  them  a  more  righteous  child  in  exchange  for  him,  and 
one  more  affectionate  towards  them.  And  the  wall  belonged 
to  two  orphan  youths  in  the  city,  and  under  it  was  a  treasure 
hidden  which  belonged  to  them ;  and  their  father  was  a 
righteous  man :  and  thy  LORD  was  pleased  that  they  should 
attain  their  full  age,  and  take  forth  their  treasure,  through 
the  mercy  of  thy  LORD,  and  I  did  not  what  thou  hast  seeft 
of  mine  own  will,  but  by  Gods  direction.  This  is  the  inter* 
pretation  of  that  which  thou  couldest  not  bear  with  patience. 
The  Jews  will  ask  thee  concerning  Dhu'lkarnein.1  Answer 
(  will  rehearse  unto  you  an  account  of  him.  We  made  him 


AL  KORAN.  249 

powerful  in  the  earth,  and  we  gave  him  means  to  accomplish 
everything  he  pleased.  And  he  followed  his  way,  until  he 
came  to  the  place  where  the  sun  setteth ;  and  he  found  it  to 
set  in  a  spring  of  black  mud ;  and  he  found  near  the  same  a 
certain  people.  And  we  said,  O  Dhu'lkarnein,  either  punish 
this  people,  or  use  gentleness  towards  them.  He  answered, 
Whosoever  of  them  shall  commit  injustice,  we  will  surely 
punish  him  in  this  world;  afterwards  shall  he  return  unto 
his  LORD,  and  he  shall  punish  him  with  a  severe  punishment. 
But  whosoever  believeth,  and  doth  that  which  is  right,  shall 
receive  the  most  excellent  reward,  and  we  will  give  him  in 
command  that  which  is  easy.  Then  he  continued  his  way, 
until  he  came  to  the  place  where  the  sun  riseth;  and  he 
found  it  to  rise  on  certain  people,  unto  whom  we  had  not 
given  anything  wherewith  to  shelter  themselves  therefrom. 
Thus  it  was  ;  and  we  comprehended  with  our  knowledge  the 
forces  which  were  with  him.  And  he  prosecuted  his  journey 
from  south  to  north,  until  he  came  between  the  two  mountains ; 
beneath  which  he  found  certain  people,  who  could  scarce  un- 
derstand what  was  said.  And  they  said,  O  Dhu'lkarnein, 
verily,  Gog  and  Magog  waste  the  land ;  shall  we  therefore 
pay  thee  tribute,  on  condition  that  thou  build  a  rampart  be- 
tween us  and  them?  He  answered,  The  power  wherewith 
my  LORD  has  strengthened  me  is  better  than  your  tribute  : 
but  assist  me  strenuously,  and  I  will  set  a  strong  wall  between 
you  and  them.  Bring  me  iron  in  large  pieces,  until  it  fill  up 
the  space  between  the  two  sides  of  these  mountains.  And  he 
said  to  the  workmen,  Blow  with  your  bellows,  until  it  make 
the  iron  red  hot  as  fire.  And  he  said  further,  Bring  me 
molten  brass,  that  I  may  pour  upon  it.  Wherefore,  when 
this  wall  was  finished,  Gog  and  Magog  could  not  scale  it, 
neither  could  they  dig  through  it.1  And  Dhu'lkarnein  said, 
This  it  a  mercy  from  my  LORD  :  but  when  the  prediction 
of  my  LORD  shall  come  to  be  fulfilled,  he  shall  reduce  the 
wall  to  dust ;  and  the  prediction  of  my  LORD  is  true.  On 
that  day  we  will  suffer  some  of  them  to  press  tumultuously 
like  waves  on  others :  and  the  trumpet  shall  be  sounded,  and 
we  will  gather  them  in  a  body  together.  And  we  will  set 
hell  on  that  day  before  the  unbelievers ;  whose  eyes  have 
been  veiled  from  my  remembrance,  and  who  could  not  hear 
my  words.  Do  the  unbelievers  think  that  I  will  not  punish 
them,  for  that  they  take  my  servants  for  their  protectors  be- 


250  AL  KORAN. 

Bides  me  ?  Verily  we  have  prepared  hell  for  the  abode  of 
the  infidels.  Say,  Shall  we  declare  unto  you  those  whosa 
works  are  vain,  whose  endeavor  in  the  present  life  hath  been 
wrongly  directed,  and  who  think  they  do  the  work  which  ia 
right  ?  These  are  they  who  believe  not  in  the  signs  of  their 
LORD,  or  that  they  shall  be  assembled  before  him ;  where- 
fore their  works  are  vain,  and  we  will  not  allow  them  any 
weight  on  the  day  of  resurrection.  This  thall  be  their  re- 
ward, namely,  hell ;  for  that  they  have  disbelieved,  and  have 
held  my  signs  and  apostles  in  derision.  But  as  for  those  who 
believe  and  do  good  works,  they  shall  have  the  gardens  of 
paradise  for  their  abode :  they  shall  remain  therein  forever ; 
they  shall  wish  for  no  change  therein.  Say,  If  the  sea  were 
ink  to  write  the  words  of  my  LORD,  verily  the  sea  would  fail, 
before  the  words  of  my  LORD  would  fail ;  although  we  added 
another  sea  like  unto  it  as  a  further  supply.  Say,  Verily  I 
am  only  a  man  as  ye  are.  It  is  revealed  unto  me  that  your 
GOD  is  one  only  GOD  :  let  him  therefore  who  hopeth  to  meet 
his  LORD  work  a  righteous  work ;  and  let  him  not  make  any 
other  to  partake  in  the  worship  of  his  LOKD. 


CHAPTER 

ENTITLED,    MART  ;    REVEALED    AT   MECCA. 
DT   THE    NAME    OF   THB   HOST   MERCIFUL   GOD. 

C.  H.  Y.  A.  S.  A  COMMEMORATION  of  the  mercy  of  thy 
LORD  towards  his  servant  Zacharias.  When  he  called  upon 
his  LORD,  invoking  him  in  secret,  and  said,  O  LORD,  verily 
my  bones  are  weakened,  and  my  head  is  become  white  with 
hoariness,  and  I  have  never  been  unsuccessful  in  my  prayers 
to  thee,  0  LORD.  But  now  I  fear  my  nephews,  who  are  to  suc- 
ceed after  me,  for  my  wife  is  barren  :  wherefore,  give  mo  a  suc- 
cessor of  my  own  body  from  before  thee  ;  who  may  be  my  heir, 
\nd  may  be  an  heir  of  the  family  of  Jacob  ;  and  grant,  0  LORD, 
that  he  may  be  acceptable  unto  thee.  And  the  angel  answered 
him,  0  Zacharias,  verily  we  bring  thee  tidings  of  a  son,  whose 
name  shall  be  John ;  we  have  not  caused  any  to  bear  tho 


AL  KORAN.  25J 

same  name  before  him.  Zacharias  said,  LORD,  how  shall  1 
have  a  son,  seeing  my  wife  is  barren,  and  I  am  now  arrived 
at  a  great  age,  and  am  decrepit  ?  The  angel  said,  So  shall  it 
be:  thy  LORD  saith,  This  is  easy  with  me  ;  since  I  created 
thee  heretofore,  when  thou  wast  nothing.  Zacharias  answer- 
ed, O  LORD,  give  me  a  sign.  The  angel  replied,  Thy  sign 
thall  be  that  thou  shalt  not  speak  to  men  for  three  nights, 
although  thou  be  in  perfect  health.  And  he  went  forth  unto 
his  people,  from  the  chamber,  and  he  made  signs  unto  them, 
as  {f  he  should  say,  Praise  ye  God  in  the  morning  and  in  the 
evening.  And  we  said  unto  his  son,  0  John,  receive  the  book 
of  the  law,  with  a  resolution  to  study  and  observe  it.  And  we 
bestowed  on  him  wisdom,  when  he  was  yet  a  child,  and  mercy 
from  us,  and  purity  of  life;  and  he  was  a  devout  person,  and 
dutiful  towards  his  parents,  and  was  not  proud  or  rebellious. 
Peace  be  on  him  the  day  whereon  he  was  born,  and  the  day 
whereon  he  shall  die,  and  the  day  whereon  he  shall  be  raised 
to  life.  And  remember  in  the  book  of  the  Koran  the  story  of 
Mary  ;  when  she  retired  from  her  family  to  a  place  towards 
the  east,  and  took  a  veil  to  conceal  herself  from  them ;  and 
we  sent  our  spirit  Gabriel  unto  her,  and  he  appeared  unto 
her  in  the  shape  of  a  perfect  man.  She  said,  I  fly  for  refuge 
unto  the  merciful  God,  that  he  may  defend  me  from  thee :  if 
thou  fearest  him,  thou  wilt  not  approach  me.  He  answered, 
Verily  I  am  the  messenger  of  thy  LORD,  and  am  sent  to  give 
thee  a  holy  son.  She  said,  How  shall  I  have  a  son,  seeing  a 
man  hath  not  touched  me,  and  I  am  no  harlot  ?  Gabriel  re- 
plied, So  shall  it  be :  thy  LORD  saith,  This  is  easy  with  me  ; 
and  we  will  perform  it,  that  we  may  ordain  him  for  a  sign 
unto  men,  and  a  mercy  from  us:  for  it  is  a  thing  which  is 
decreed.  Wherefore  she  conceived  him  ;  and  she  retired 
aside  with  him  in  her  womb  to  a  distant  place ;  and  the  pains 
of  child-birth  came  upon  her  near  the  trunk  of  a  palm-tree. 
She  said,  Would  to  GOD  I  had  died  before  this,  and  had  be- 
come a  thing  forgotten,  and  lost  in  oblivion.  And  he  who 
was  beneath  her  called  to  her,  saying,  be  not  grieved ;  now 
hath  GOD  provided  a  rivulet  under  thee ;  and  do  thou  shake 
the  body  of  the  palm-tree,  and  it  shall  let  fall  ripe  dates  upon 
ihee  ready  gathered.  And  eat,  and  drink,  and  calm  thy 
mind.  Moreover,  if  thou  see  any  man,  and  he  question  thee, 
say,  Verily  I  have  vowed  a  fast  unto  the  Merciful :  where- 
fore I  will  by  no  means  speak  to  a  man  this  day.  So  she 


252  AL  KORAN. 

brought  the  child  to  her  people,  carrying  him  in  her  armt 
And  they  said  unto  her,  0  Mary,  now  hast  thou  done  a  strange 
thing :  0  sister  of  Aaron,  thy  father  was  not  a  bad  man, 
neither  was  thy  mother  a  harlot.  But  she  made  signs  unto 
the  child  to  answer  them  ;  and  they  said,  How  shall  we  speak 
to  him,  who  is  an  infant  in  the  cradle  ?  Whereupon  the  child 
said,  Verily  I  am  the  servant  of  GOD  ;  he  hath  given  me  the 
book  of  the  gospel,  and  hath  appointed  me  a  prophet.  And 
he  hath  made  me  blessed,  wheresoever  I  shall  be ;  and  hath 
commanded  me  to  observe  prayer,  and  to  give  alms,  so  long  aa 
I  shall  live  ;  and  he  hath  made  me  dutiful  towards  my  mother, 
and  hath  not  made  me  proud  or  unhappy.  And  peace  be  on 
me  the  day  whereon  I  was  born,  and  the  day  whereon  I  shall 
die,  and  the  day  whereon  I  shall  be  raised  to  life.  This  was 
Jesus  the  son  of  Mary  ;  the  Word  of  truth,  concerning  whom 
they  doubt.  It  is  not  meet  for  GOD,  that  he  should  have  any 
eon  ;  GOD  forbid  !  When  he  decreeth  a  thing,  he  only  saith  un- 
to it,  Be;  and  it  is.  And  verily  GOD  is  my  LORD  and  your 
LOUD  ;  wherefore,  serve  him  :  this  is  the  right  way.  Yet  the 
sectaries  differ  among  themselves  concerning  Jesus;  but  woe  be 
unto  those  who  are  unbelievers,  because  of  their  appearance 
at  the  great  day.  Do  thou  cause  them  to  hear,  and  do  thou 
cause  them  to  see,  on  the  day  whereon  they  shall  come  unto  ua 
to  be  judged :  but  the  ungodly  are  this  day  in  a  manifest  error.1 
And  do  thou  forewarn  them  of  the  day  of  sighing,  when  the 
matter  shall  be  determined,  while  they  are  now  sunk  in  neg- 
ligence, and  do  not  believe.  Verily  we  will  inherit  the  earth, 
and  whatever  creatures  are  therein ;  and  unto  us  shall  they 
att  return.  And  remember  Abraham  in  the  book  of  the 
Koran  ;  for  he  was  one  of  great  veracity,  and  a  prophet. 
When  he  said  unto  his  father,  O  my  father,  why  dost  thou 
worship  that  which  heareth  not-  neither  seeth,  nor  profiteth 
thee  at  all?  0  my  father,  verily  a  degree  of  knowledge 
hath  been  bestowed  on  me,  which  hath  not  been  bestowed 
on  thee :  wherefore  follow  me ;  I  will  lead  thee  into  an 
even  way.  O  my  father,  serve  not  Satan ;  for  Satan  was 
rebellious  unto  the  Merciful.  O  my  father,  verily  I  fear 
lest  a  punishment  be  inflicted  on  thee  from  the  Merciful,  and 
thou  become  a  companion  of  Satan.  His  father  answered, 
Dost  thou  reject  my  gods,  O  Abraham  ?  If  thou  forbear  not, 
I  will  surely  stone  thee  :  wherefore  leave  me  for  a  long  time. 
Abraham  replied,  Peace  be  on  thee :  I  will  ask  pardon  foi 


AL  KORAN.  253 

Ihee  of  my  LORD  ;  for  he  is  gracious  unto  me.  And  I  will 
separate  myself  from  you,  and  from  the  idols  which  ye  invoke 
besides  GOD  ;  and  I  will  call  upon  my  LORD  ;  it  may  be 
that  I  shall  not  be  unsuccessful  in  calling  on  my  LORD,  as  ye 
are  in  catting  upon  them.  And  when  he  had  separated  him- 
self from  them,  and  from  the  idols  which  they  worshipped 
besides  GOD,  we  gave  him  Isaac  and  Jacob  ;  and  we  made 
each  of  them  a  prophet,  and  we  bestowed  on  them,  through 
our  mercy,  the  gift  of  prophecy,  and  children  and  wealth ; 
and  we  caused  them  to  deserve  the  highest  commendations. 
And  remember  Moses  in  the  book  of  the  Koran :  for  he  was 
sincerely  upright,  and  was  an  apostle  and  a  prophet.  And 
we  called  unto  him  from  the  right  side  of  Mount  Sinai,  and 
caused  him  to  draw  near,  and  to  discourse  privately  with  Ui. 
And  we  gave  him,  through  our  mercy,  his  brother  Aaron  a 
prophet,  for  his  assistant.  Remember  also  Ismael  in  the 
tame  book ;  for  he  was  true  to  his  promise,  and  was  an  apos- 
tle, and  a  prophet.  And  he  commanded  his  family  to  observe 
prayer,  and  to  give  alms ;  and  he  was  acceptable  unto  big 
LORD.  And  remember  Edris  in  the  same  book  ;  for  he  was 
a  just  person,  and  a  prophet :  and  we  exalted  him  to  a  high 
place.  These  are  they  unto  whom  GOD  hath  been  bounteous, 
of  the  prophets  of  the  posterity  of  Adam,  and  of  those  whom 
we  carried  in  the  ark  with  Noah ;  and  of  the  posterity  of 
Abraham,  and  of  Israel,  and  of  those  whom  we  have  directed 
and  chosen.  When  the  signs  of  the  Merciful  were  read  unto 
them,  they  fell  down,  worshipping,  and  wept :  but  a  .succeed' 
ing  generation  have  come  after  them,  who  neglect  prayer,  and 
follow  their  lusts ;  and  they  shall  surely  fall  into  evil :  except 
him  who  repenteth,  and  believeth,  and  doth  that  which  is 
right ;  these  shall  enter  paradise,  and  they  shall  not  in  tl  e 
least  be  wronged :  gardens  of  perpetual  abode  shall  be  their 
reward,  which  the  Merciful  hath  promised  unto  his  servants, 
as  an  object  of  faith ;  for  his  promise  will  surely  come  to  be 
fulfilled.  Therein  shah1  they  hear  no  vain  discourse,  but 
peace ;  and  their  provision  shall  be  prepared  for  them  therein 
morning  and  evening.  This  is  paradise,  which  we  will  give 
for  an  inheritance  unto  such  of  our  servants  as  shall  be  pious. 
We  descend  not  from  heaven,  unless  by  the  command  of  thy 
LORD  :  unto  him  belongeth  whatsoever  is  before  us,  and  what- 
soever is  behind  us,  and  whatsoever  is  in  the  intermediate 
tpace ;  neither  is  thy  LORD  forgetful  of  thee.1  He  it  the 


254  AL  KORAS. 

LORD  of  heaven  and  earth,  and  of  whatsoever  is  between 
«hem :  wherefore  worship  him,  and  be  constant  in  his  worship. 
Dost  thou  know  any  named  like  him  ?  Man  saith,  After  1 
jhall  have  been  dead,  shall  I  really  be  brought  forth  alive 
from  the  grave  f  Doth  not  man  remember  that  we  created 
him  heretofore,  when  he  was  nothing  ?  But  by  thy  LORD 
we  will  surely  assemble  them  and  the  devils  to  judgment ; 
then  will  we  set  them  round  about  hell  on  their  knees  :  after- 
wards we  will  draw  forth  from  every  sect  such  of  them  as 
thatt  have  been  a  more  obstinate  rebel  against  the  Merciful ; 
and  we  best  know  which  of  them  are  more  worthy  to  be 
burned  therein.  There  shall  be  none  of  you  but  shall  ap- 
proach near  the  same :  this  is  an  established  decree  with  thy 
LORD.1  Afterwards  we  will  deliver  those  who  shall  have 
been  pious,  but  we  will  leave  the  ungodly  therein  on  their 
knees.  When  our  manifest  signs  are  read  unto  them,  the  in- 
fidels say  unto  the  true  believers,  Which  of  the  two  parties 
is  in  the  more  eligible  condition,  and  formeth  the  more  ex- 
cellent assembly  ?  But  how  many  generations  have  we 
destroyed  before  them,  which  excelled  them  in  wealth,  and  in 
outward  appearance  ?  Say,  Whosoever  is  in  error,  the  Mer- 
ciful will  grant  him  a  long  and  prosperous  life,  until  they  see 
that  with  which  they  are  threatened,  whether  it  be  the  pun- 
ishment of  this  life,  or  that  of  the  last  hour ;  and  hereafter 
they  shall  know  who  is  in  the  worse  condition,  and  the  weaker 
in  forces.  GOD  shall  more  fully  direct  those  who  receive 
direction  ;  and  the  good  works  which  remain  forever  are  better 
in  the  sight  of  thy  LORD  than  worldly  possessions,  in  respect 
to  the  reward,  and  more  eligible  in  respect  to  the  future 
recompense.  Hast  thou  seen  him  who  believeth  not  in  our 
signs,  and  saith,  I  shall  surely  have  riches  and  children  be- 
stowed on  me  ?  Is  he  acquainted  with  the  secrets  of  futurity  ; 
or  hath  he  received  a  covenant  from  the  Merciful  that  it  shall 
be  so?  By  no  means.  We  will  surely  write  down  that 
which  he  saith ;  and  increasing  we  will  increase  his  punish- 
ment ;  and  we  will  be  his  heir  as  to  that  which  he  speaketh 
of;  and  on  the  last  day  he  shall  appear  before  us  alone  and 
naked.  They  have  taken  other  gods,  besides  GOD,  that  they 
may  be  a  glory  unto  them.  By  no  means.  Hereafter  shall 
they  deny  their  worship  ;  and  they  shall  become  adversaries 
unto  them.  Dost  thou  not  see  that  we  send  the  devils  against 
the  infidels,  to  incite  them  to  fin  by  their  instigations  ?  Where- 


AL  KORAN.  256 

fore  be  not  in  haste  to  call  down  destruction  upon  them ;  for 
we  number  unto  them  a  determined  number  of  days  of  res- 
pite. On  a  certain  day  we  will  assemble  the  pious  before 
the  Merciful  in  an  honorable  manner,  as  ambassadors  come 
into  the  presence  of  a  prince :  but  we  will  drive  the  wicked 
into  hell,  as  cattle  are  driven  to  water :  they  shall  obtain  no 
intercession,  except  he  only  who  hath  received  a  covenant 
from  the  Merciful.1  They  say,  The  Merciful  hath  begotten 
issue.  Now  have  ye  uttered  an  impious  thing :  it  wanteth 
little  but  that  on  occasion  thereof  the  heavens  be  rent,  and 
the  earth  cleave  in  sunder,  and  the  mountains  be  overthrown 
and  fall,  for  that  they  attribute  children  unto  the  Merciful ; 
whereas  it  becometh  not  GOD  to  beget  children.  Verily  there 
is  none  in  heaven  or  on  earth  but  shall  approach  the  Merci  • 
ful  as  his  servant.  He  encompasseth  them  by  his  knowledge 
and  power,  and  numbereth  them  with  an  exact  computation  . 
and  they  shall  all  come  unto  him  on  the  day  of  resurrection, 
destitute  both  of  helpers  and  followers.  But  as  for  those  who 
believe  and  do  good  works,  the  Merciful  will  bestow  on  them 
love.  Verily  we  have  rendered  the  Koran  easy  for  thy 
tongue,  that  thou  mayest  thereby  declare  our  promises  unto 
the  pious,  and  mayest  thereby  denounce  threats  unto  conten- 
tious people.  And  how  many  generations  have  we  destroyed 
before  them  ?  Dost  thou  find  one  of  them  remaining  f  Or 
dost  thou  hear  so  much  at  a  whisper  concerning  them  ? 


CHAPTER  XX. 

1NTITLED,    T.    H.  ;    REVEALED    AT    MECCA. 
Ill   THE   NAJfB    OF    THE    MOST    MEBCirUL   GOD. 

T.  H.  WE  have  not  sent  down  the  Koran  unto  thee,  that 
&ou  shouldest  be  unhappy  ;  but  for  an  admonition  unto  him 
who  feareth  God:  being  sent  down  from  him  who  created 
the  earth,  and  the  lofty  heavens.  The  Merciful  sitteth  on 
4t«  throne :  unto  him  belongeth  whatsoever  is  in  heaven  and 
•n  earth,  and  whatsoever  is  between  them,  and  whatsoever  u 


256  AL   KORAN. 

under  the  earth.  If  thou  pronounce  thy  prayers  with  a  loud 
voice,  know  that  it  is  not  necessary  in  respect  to  God;  for  he 
knoweth  that  which  is  secret,  and  what  is  yet  more  hidden, 
GOD  I  there  is  no  GOD  but  he,  he  hath  most  excellent  names, 
Hast  thou  been  informed  of  the  history  of  Moses  ?  When  he 
saw  fire,  and  said  unto  his  family,  Tarry  ye  here  ;  for  I  per- 
ceive fire :  peradventure  I  may  bring  you  a  brand  thereout, 
or  may  find  a  direction  in  our  way  by  the  fire.  And  when 
he  was  come  near  unto  it,  a  voice  called  unto  him,  saying, 

0  Moses,  verily  I  am  thy  LORD  :    wherefore  put  off  thj 
shoes ;  for  thou  art  in  the  sacred  valley  Towa.     And  I  have- 
chosen   thee ;    therefore   hearken  with   attention  unto   that 
which  is  revealed  unto  thee.     Verily  I  am  GOD  ;  there  is  no 
god  besides  me;   wherefore  worship  me,  and  perform  thy 
prayer  in  remembrance  of  me.     Verily  the  hour  cometh : 

1  will  surely  manifest  the  same,  that  every  soul  may  receive 
its  reward  for  that  which  it  hath  deliberately  done.     Let  not 
him  who  believeth  not  therein,  and  who  followeth  his  lust, 
prevent  thee  from  believing  in  the  same,  lest  thou  perish. 
Now  what  is  that  in  thy  right  hand,  0  Moses?    He  an- 
swered, It  is  my  rod  whereon  I  lean,  and  with  which  I  beat 
down  leaves  for  my  flock ;  and  I  have  other  uses  for  it.    God 
said  unto  him,  Cast  it  down,  O  Moses.     And  he  cast  it  down, 
and  behold,  it  became  a  serpent,  which  ran  about.      God  said, 
Take  hold  on  it,  and  fear  not :  we  will  reduce  it  to  its  former 
condition.     And  put  thy  right  hand  under  thy  left  arm :  it 
shall  come  forth  white,  without  any  hurt.     This  shall  be  an- 
other sign :  that  we  may  show  thee  some  of  our  greatest 
signs.     Go  unto  Pharaoh :  for  he  is  exceedingly  impious. 
Moses  answered,  LORD,  enlarge  my  breast,  and  make  what 
thou  hast  commanded  me  easy  unto  me :  and  loose  the  knot 
of  my  tongue,  that  they  may  understand  my  speech.*    And 
give  me  a  counsellor  of  my  family,  namely,  Aaron  my  brother. 
Gird  up  my  loins  by  him,  and  make  him  my  colleague  in  the 
business :  that  we  may  praise  thee  greatly,  and  may  remem- 
ber thee  often;  for  thou  regardest  us.       God  replied,  Now 
hast  thou  obtained  thy  request,  0  Moses :  and  we  have  here- 
tofore been  gracious  unto  thee,  another  time,  when  we  re- 
vealed unto  thy  mother  that  which  was  revealed  unto  her, 
taying,  Put  him  into  the  ark,  and  cast  him  into  the  river 
and  the  river  shall  throw  him  on  the  shore  ;  and  my  enemy 
and  his  enemy  shall  take  him  and  bring  him  up  ;  and  I  be- 


AL  KORAN.  257 

•towed  on  thee  love  from  me,  that  thou  mightest  be  bred  up 
under  ray  eye.1  When  thy  sister  went  and  said,  Shall  I  bring 
you  unto  one  who  will  nurse  the  child?  So  we  returned  thee 
unto  thy  mother,  that  her  mind  might  be  set  at  ease,  and  that 
she  might  not  be  afflicted.  And  thou  slewest  a  soul,  and  we 
delivered  thee  from  trouble ;  and  we  proved  thee  by  several 
trials :  and  afterwards  thou  didst  dwell  some  years  among 
the  inhabitants  of  Madian.  Then  thou  earnest  hither  accord- 
ing to  our  decree,  O  Moses  ;  and  I  have  chosen  thee  for  my- 
self; wherefore  go  thou  and  thy  brother  with  my  signs ;  and 
be  not  negligent  in  remembering  me.  Go  ye  unto  Pharaoh, 
for  he  is  excessively  impious :  and  speak  mildly  unto  him  ; 
peradventure  he  will  consider,  or  will  fear  our  threats.  They 
answered,  0  LORD,  verily  we  fear  lest  he  be  precipitately 
violent  against  us,  or  lest  he  transgress  more  exorbitantly. 
God  replied,  Fear  not ;  for  I  am  with  you  :  I  will  hear  and 
will  see.  Go  ye  therefore  unto  him,  and  say,  Verily  we  are 
the  messengers  of  thy  LORD  :  wherefore  send  the  children 
of  Israel  with  us,  and  do  not  afflict  them.  Now  are  we  come 
unto  thee  with  a  sign  from  thy  LORD  :  and  peace  be  upon 
him  who  shall  follow  the  true  direction.  Verily  it  hath  been 
revealed  unto  us,  that  a  punishment  shall  be  inflicted  on  him 
who  shall  charge  us  with  imposture,  and  shall  turn  back. 
And  when  they  had  delivered  their  message,  Pharaoh  said, 
Who  is  your  LORD,  0  Moses  ?  He  answered,  Our  LORD 
is  he  who  giveth  all  things :  he  hath  created  them,  and 
directeth  them  by  his  providence.  Pharaoh  said,  What  there- 
fore is  the  condition  of  the  former  generations  ?  Moses  an- 
swered, The  knowledge  thereof  is  with  my  LORD,  in  the 
book  of  his  decrees:  my  LORD  erreth  not,  neither  doth  he 
forget.  It  is  he  who  hath  spread  the  earth  as  a  bed  for  you, 
and  hath  made  you  paths  therein ;  and  who  sendeth  down 
rain  from  heaven,  whereby  we  cause  various  kinds  of  vege- 
tables to  spring  forth:  saying,  Eat  of  part,  and  feed  your 
cattle  with  other  part  thereof.  Verily  herein  are  signs  unto 
those  who  are  endued  with  understanding.  Out  of  the  ground 
have  we  created  you ;  and  to  the  same  will  we  cause  you  to 
teturn,  and  we  will  bring  you  forth  from  thence  another  time. 
And  we  showed  Pharaoh  all  our  signs  which  we  had  em~ 
powered  Moses  to  perform :  but  he  accused  him  of  imposture, 
and  refused  to  believe  ;  and  he  said,  Art  thou  come  unto  us 
that  thou  mayest  dispossess  us  of  our  land  by  thy  enchant 
7 


258  AL  KORAN. 

ments,  O  Moses  ?  Verily  we  will  meet  thee  with  the  lika 
enchantments ;  wherefore  fix  an  appointment  between  ua 
and  thee ;  we  will  not  fail  it,  neither  shalt  thou,  in  an  equal 
place.  Moses  answered,  Let  your  appointment  he  on  the 
day  of  your  solemn  feast ;  and  let  the  people  be  assembled 
in  open  day.  And  Pharaoh  turned  away  from  Moses,  and 
gathered  together  the  most  expert  magicians  to  execute  his 
stratagem ;  and  then  came  to  the  appointment.  Moses  said 
unto  them,  Woe  be  unto  you !  do  not  devise  a  lie  against 
GOD,  lest  he  utterly  destroy  you  by  some  judgment:  for  he 
shall  not  prosper  who  deviseth  lies.  And  the  magicians 
disputed  concerning  their  affair  among  themselves,  and  dis- 
coursed in  private :  and  they  said,  These  two  are  certainly 
magicians :  they  seek  to  dispossess  you  of  your  land  by  their 
sorcery  ;  and  to  lead  away  with  them  your  chiefest  and  most 
considerable  men.  Wherefore  collect  all  your  cunning,  and 
then  come  in  order :  for  he  shall  prosper  this  day,  who  shall 
be  superior.  They  said,  O  Moses,  whether  wilt  thou  cast 
down  thy  rodjirst,  or  shall  we  be  the  first  who  cast  down  our 
rods?  He  answered,  Do  ye  cast  down  your  rods  jirst.  And 
behold,  their  cords  and  their  rods  appeared  unto  him,  by  their 
enchantment,  to  run  about  like  serpents  ;  wherefore  Moses 
conceived  fear  in  his  heart.  But  we  said  unto  him,  Fear 
not ;  for  thou  shalt  be  superior :  therefore  cast  down  the  rod 
which  is  in  thy  right  hand ;  and  it  shall  swallow  up  the  seem- 
ing serpents  which  they  have  made  :  for  what  they  have 
made  is  only  the  deceit  of  an  enchanter  ;  and  an  enchanter 
shall  not  prosper,  whithersoever  he  cometh.  And  the  magi- 
cians, when  they  saw  the  miracle  which  Moses  performed,  fell 
down  and  worshipped,  saying,  We  believe  in  the  LORD  of 
Aaron  and  of  Moses.  Pharaoh  said  unto  them,  Do  ye  be- 
lieve in  him  before  I  give  you  permission  ?  Verily  this  is 
your  master,  who  hath  taught  you  magic.  But  I  will  surely 
cut  off  your  hands  and  your  feet  on  the  opposite  sides ;  and 
I  will  crucify  you  on  trunks  of  palm-trees  :  and  ye  shall 
know  which  of  us  is  more  severe  in  punishing,  and  can 
longer  protract  your  pains.  They  answered,  We  will  by  no 
means  have  greater  regard  unto  thee  than  unto  those  evident 
miracles  which  have  been  shown  us,  or  than  unto  him  who 
hath  created  us.  Pronounce  therefore  that  sentence  against 
us  which  thou  art  about  to  pronounce :  for  thou  canst  only 
give  sentence  as  to  this  present  life.  Verily  we  believe  in 


AL  KORAN.  259 

•ur  LORD,  that  he  may  forgive  us  our  sins,  and  the  sorcery 
which  thou  hast  forced  us  to  exercise:  for  GOD  is  better  to 
reward,  and  more  able  to  prolong  punishment  than  thou. 
Verily  whosoever  shall  appear  before  his  LORD  on  the  day 
of  judgment,  polluted  with  crimes,  shall  have  hell  for  hit 
reward;  he  shall  not  die  therein,  neither  shall  he  live.  But 
whoever  shall  appear  before  him,  having  been  a  true  believ- 
er, and  shall  have  worked  righteousness,  for  these  are  pre- 
pared the  highest  degrees  of  happiness  ;  namely,  gardens  of 
perpetual  abode,  which  shall  be  watered  by  rivers ;  they 
shall  remain  therein  forever :  and  this  shall  be  the  reward 
of  him  who  shall  be  pure.  And  we  spake  by  revelation  unto 
Moses,  saying,  Go  forth  with  my  servants  out  of  Egypt  by 
night ;  and  smite  the  waters  with  thy  rod,  and  make  them  a 
dry  path  through  the  sea :  be  not  apprehensive  of  Pharaoh's 
overtaking  thee ;  neither  be  thou  afraid.  And  when  Moses 
had  done  so,  Pharaoh  followed  them  with  his  forces ;  and  the 
waters  of  the  sea  overwhelmed  them.  And  Pharaoh  caused 
his  people  to  err,  neither  did  he  direct  them  aright.  Thus,  0 
children  of  Israel,  we  delivered  you  from  your  enemy ;  and 
we  appointed  you  the  right  side  of  Mount  Sinai  to  discourse 
with  Moses  and  to  give  him  the  law  ;  and  we  caused  manna 
and  quails  to  descend  upon  you,  saying,  Eat  of  the  good 
things  which  we  have  given  you  for  food ;  and  transgress  not 
therein,  lest  my  indignation  fall  on  you ;  and  on  whomsoever 
my  indignation  shall  fall,  he  shall  go  down  headlong  into  per- 
dition. But  I  witt  be  gracious  unto  him  who  shall  repent 
and  believe,  and  shall  do  that  which  is  right ;  and  who  shall 
be  rightly  directed.  What  hath  caused  thee  to  hasten  from 
thy  people,  O  Moses,  to  receive  the  law  f  He  answered, 
These  follow  close  on  my  footsteps ;  but  I  have  hastened 
unto  thee,  O  LORD,  that  thou  mightest  be  well  pleased  with 
me.  God  said,  We  have  already  made  a  trial  of  thy  people, 
since  thy  departure  ;  and  al  Sameri  hath  seduced  them  to 
idolatry.  Wherefore  Moses  returned  unto  his  people  in 
great  wrath,  and  exceedingly  afflicted.  And  he  said,  0  my 
people,  had  not  your  LORD  promised  you  a  most  excellent 
promise  ?  Did  the  time  of  my  absence  seem  long  unto  you  ? 
Or  did  ye  desire  that  indignation  from  your  LORD  should 
fall  on  you,  and  therefore  failed  to  keep  the  promise  which 
ve  made  me  ?  They  answered,  We  have  not  failed  in  what 
we  promised  thee  of  our  own  authority ;  but  we  were  mads 


260  AL  KORAN. 

to  carry  in  several  loads  of  gold  and  silver,  of  the  ornaments 
of  the  people,  and  we  cast  them  into  the  fire ;  and  in  like 
manner  al  Sameri  also  cast  in  what  he  had  collected,  and  he 
produced  unto  them  a  corporeal  calf,  which  lowed.  And  al 
Sameri  and  his  companions  said,  This  is  your  god,  and  the 
god  of  Moses ;  but  he  hath  forgotten  him,  and  is  gone  to  seek 
tome  other.  Did  they  not  therefore  see  that  their  idol  re- 
turned them  no  answer,  and  was  not  able  to  cause  them 
either  hurt  or  profit?  And  Aaron  had  said  unto  them  before, 
0  my  people,  verily  ye  are  only  proved  by  this  calf;  for 
your  LORD  is  the  Merciful:  wherefore,  follow  me,  and  obey 
my  command.  They  answered,  We  will  by  no  means  cease 
to  be  devoted  to  its  worship,  until  Moses  return  unto  us. 
And  when  Moses  was  returned,  he  said,  O  Aaron,  what  hin- 
dered thee,  when  thou  sawest  that  they  went  astray,  that 
thou  didst  not  follow  me?  Hast  thou,  therefore,  been  dis- 
obedient to  my  command  ?  Aaron  answered,  O  son  of  my 
mother,  drag  me  not  by  the  beard,  nor  by  the  hair  of  my 
head.  Verily  I  feared  lest  thou  shouldest  say,  Thou  hast 
made  a  division  among  the  children  of  Israel,  and  thou  hast 
not  observed  my  saying.  Moses  said  unto  al  Sameri,  What 
was  thy  design,  O  Sameri?  He  answered,  I  saw  that  which 
they  saw  not ;  wherefore  I  took  a  handful  of  dust  from  the 
footsteps  of  the  messenger  of  God,  and  I  cast  it  into  the 
molten  calf;  for  so  did  my  mind  direct  me.  Moses  said,  Get 
thee  gone ;  for  thy  punishment  in  this  life  shall  be,  that  thou 
shall  say  unto  those  who  shall  meet  thee,  Touch  me  not ;  and 
a  threat  is  denounced  against  thee  of  more  terrible  pains,  in 
the  life  to  come,  which  thou  shalt  by  no  means  escape.1  And 
behold  now  thy  god,  to  whose  worship  thou  hast  continued 
assiduously  devoted ;  verily  we  will  burn  it ;  and  we  will  re- 
duce it  to  powder,  and  scatter  it  in  the  sea.  Your  GOD  is 
the  true  GOD,  besides  whom  there  is  no  other  god :  he  com- 
prehendeth  all  things  by  his  knowledge.  Thus  do  we  recite 
unto  thee,  0  Mohammed,  relations  of  what  hath  passed  here- 
tofore ;  and  we  have  given  thee  an  admonition  from  us.  He 
who  shall  turn  aside  from  it  shall  surely  carry  a  load  of  guilt 
on  the  day  of  resurrection :  they  shall  continue  thereunder 
forever ;  and  a  grievous  burden  shall  it  be  unto  them  on, 
the  day  of  resurrection.  On  that  day  the  trumpet  shall 
be  sounded ;  and  we  will  gather  the  wicked  together  on 
that  day,  having  gray  eyes.1  They  shall  speak  with  a  low 


AL  KORAN 

Toioe  to  one  another,  toying,  Ye  have  not  tarried  above  tea 
days.  We  well  know  what  they  will  say ;  when  the  most 
conspicuous  among  them  for  behavior  shall  say,  Ye  have 
not  tarried  above  one  day.  They  will  ask  thee  concerning 
the  mountains :  Answer,  My  LORD  will  reduce  them  to 
dust,  and  scatter  them  abroad ;  and  he  will  leave  them  a 
plain  equally  extended:  thou  slialt  see  no  part  of  them 
higher  or  lower  than  another.  On  that  day  mankind  shall 
follow  the  angel  who  will  call  them  to  judgment,  none  shall 
have  power  to  turn  aside  from  him;  and  their  voices  shall 
be  low  before  the  Merciful,  neither  shalt  thou  hear  any 
more  than  the  hollow  sound  of  their  feet.  On  that  day,  the 
intercession  of  none  shall  be  of  advantage  unto  another,  ex- 
cept the  intercession  of  him  to  whom  the  Merciful  shall  grant 
permission,  and  who  shall  be  acceptable  unto  him  in  what  he 
eaith.  God  knoweth  that  which  is  before  them,  and  that 
which  is  Behind  them ;  but  they  comprehend  not  the  same 
by  their  knowledge :  and  their  faces  shall  be  humbled  before 
the  living,  the  self-subsisting  God;  and  he  shall  be  wretched 
who  shall  bear  his  iniquity.  But  whosoever  shall  do  good 
works,  being  a  true  believer,  shall  not  fear  any  injustice,  or 
any  diminution  of  his  reward  from  God.  And  thus  have  we 
sent  down  this  book,  being  a  Koran  in  the  Arabic  tongue ; 
and  we  have  inserted  various  threats  and  promises  therein, 
that  men  may  fear  God,  or  that  it  may  awaken  some  con- 
sideration in  them :  wherefore,  let  GOD  be  highly  exalted,  the 
King,  the  Truth !  Be  not  over-hasty  in  receiving  or  repeating 
<he  Koran  before  the  revelation  thereof  be  completed  unto 
thee  ;  and  say,  LORD,  increase  my  knowledge.  We  hereto- 
fore gave  a  command  unto  Adam ;  but  he  forgot  the  tame, 
and  ate  of  the  forbidden  fruit ;  and  we  found  not  in  him  a 
firm  resolution.  And  remember  when  we  said  unto  the  an- 
gels, Worship  ye  Adam  ;  and  they  worshipped  him :  but 
Eblis  refused.  And  we  said,  0  Adam,  verily  this  is  an 
enemy  unto  thee,  and  thy  wife:  wherefore,  beware  lest  he 
turn  you  out  of  paradise;  for  then  shalt  thou  be  miserable. 
Vorily  we  have  made  a  provision  for  thee,  that  thou  shalt  not 
hunger  therein,  neither  shalt  thou  be  naked  :  and  there  it 
nlso  a  provision  made  for  thee,  that  thou  shalt  not  thirst 
therein,  neither  shaU  thou  be  incommoded  by  heat.  But 
Satan  whispered  evil  suggestions  unto  him,  saying,  0  Adam, 
shall  I  guide  thee  to  the  tree  of  eternity,  and  a  kingdom 


262  AL  KORAN. 

which  faileth  not?  And  they  both  ate  thereof:  and  theii 
nakedness  appeared  unto  them;  and  they  began  to  sew 
together  the  leaves  of  paradise,  to  cover  themselves.  And 
thus  Adam  became  disobedient  unto  his  LORD,  and  was 
seduced.  Afterwards  his  LORD  accepted  him,  on  his  re- 
pentance, and  was  turned  unto  him,  and  directed  him.  And 
God  said,  Get  ye  down  hence,  all  of  you :  the  one  of  you 
thall  be  an  enemy  unto  the  other.  But  hereafter  shall  a 
direction  come  unto  you  from  me :  and  whosoever  shall 
follow  my  direction  shall  not  err,  neither  shall  he  be  un- 
happy ;  but  whosoever  shall  turn  aside  from  my  admonition, 
verily  he  shall  lead  a  miserable  life,  and  we  will  cause  him 
to  appear  before  us  on  the  day  of  resurrection,  blind.  And 
he  shall  say,  O  LORD,  why  hast  thou  brought  me  before  thee 
blind,  whereas  before  I  saw  clearly  ?  God  shall  answer, 
Thus  hare  we  done,  because  our  signs  came  unto  thee,  and 
thou  didst  forget  them ;  and  in  the  same  manner  shalt  thou 
be  forgotten  this  day.  And  thus  will  we  reward  him  who 
shall  be  negligent,  and  shall  not  believe  in  the  signs  of  his 
LORD  :  and  the  punishment  of  the  life  to  come  shall  be 
more  severe,  and  more  lasting,  than  the  punishment  of  this 
life.  Are  not  the  Meccans,  therefore,  acquainted  how  many 
generations  we  have  destroyed  before  them  ;  in  whose  dwell- 
ings they  walk  ?  Verily  herein  are  signs  unto  those  who 
are  endued  with  understanding.  And  unless  a  decree  had 
previously  gone  forth  from  thy  LORD  for  their  respite,  verily 
their  destruction  had  necessarily  followed  :  but  there  is  a 
certain  time  determinedly  God  for  their  punishment.  Where- 
fore, do  thou,  0  Mohammed,  patiently  bear  that  which  they 
say ;  and  celebrate  the  praise  of  thy  LORD  before  the  rising 
of  the  sun,  and  before  the  setting  thereof,  and  praise  him  in 
the  hours  of  the  night,  and  in  the  extremities  of  the  day, 
that  thou  mayest  be  well- pleased  with  the  prospect  of  receiv- 
ing favor  from  God.  And  cast  not  thine  eyes  on  that  which 
we  have  granted  divers  of  the  unbelievers  to  enjoy,  namely, 
the  splendor  of  this  present  life,  that  we  may  prove  them 
thereby  ;  for  the  provision  of  thy  LORD  is  better,  and  more 
permanent.  Command  thy  family  to  observe  prayer ;  and  do 
thou  persevere  therein.  We  require  not  of  thee  that  thou 
labor  to  gain  necessary  provisions  for  thyself  and  family  ;  we 
will  provide  for  thee  ;  for  the  prosperous  issue  shall  attend 
on  piety.  The  unbelievers  say,  Unless  he  come  unto  us  with 


AL  KORAN.  2G3 

a  sign  from  his  LORD,  we  will  not  believe  on  him.  Hath  not 
a  plain  declaration  come  unto  them,  of  that  which  it  con 
tained  in  the  former  volumes  of  scripture,  by  the  revelation 
of  the  Koran  ?  if  we  had  destroyed  them  by  a  judgment 
before  the  same  had  been  revealed,  they  would  have  said,  at 
the  resurrection,  O  LORD,  how  could  we  believe  since  thou 
didst  not  send  unto  us  an  apostle,  that  we  might  follow  thy 
signs,  before  we  were  humbled  and  covered  with  shame  ? 
Say,  Each  of  us  wait  the  issue :  wait,  therefore  ;  for  ye  shall 
Burely  know  hereafter  who  have  been  the  followers  of  the 
even  way,  and  who  hath  been  rightly  directed. 


CHAPTER  XXL 

UTTITLED,   THE    PROPHETS;    REVEALED   AT   MECCA. 

11C    THB    NAME    OF    THE    MOST    MERCIFUL    OOD. 

THE  time  of  giving  up  their  account  draweth  nigh  unto 
the  people  of  Mecca  ;  while  they  are  sunk  in  negligence, 
turning  aside  from  the  consideration  thereof.  No  admo- 
nition cometh  unto  them  from  their  LORD,  being  lately 
revealed  in  the  Koran,  but  when  they  hear  it,  they  turn  it  to 
sport :  their  hearts  are  taken  up  with  delights.  And  they 
who  act  unjustly  discourse  privately  together,  saying,  Is  this 
Mohammed  any  more  than  a  man  like  yourselves  ?  Will  ye 
therefore  come  to  hear  a  piece  of  sorcery,  when  ye  plainly 
perceive  it  to  be  so  ?  Say,  My  LORD  knoweth  whatever  is 
spoken  in  heaven  and  on  earth :  it  is  he  who  heareth  and 
knoweth.  But  they  say,  The  Koran  is  a  confused  heap  of 
dreams  :  nay,  he  hath  forged  it ;  nay,  he  is  a  poet :  let  him 
come  unto  us  therefore  with  some  miracle,  in  like  manner 
as  the  former  prophets  were  sent.  None  of  the  cities  which 
we  have  destroyed  believed  the  miracles  which  they  saw  per- 
formed before  them  :  will  these  therefore  believe,  if  they  see 
a  miracle  ?  We  sent  none  as  our  apostles  before  them,  other 
than  men,  unto  whom  we  revealed  our  will.  Ask  those  who 
•we  acquainted  with  the  scripture,  if  ye  know  not  this.  W$ 


264  AL  KOBAIT. 

gave  them  not  a  body  which  could  be  supported  without  their 
eating  food ;  neither  were  they  immortal.  But  we  made 
good  our  promise  unto  them :  wherefore  we  delivered  them, 
and  those  whom  we  pleased ;  but  we  destroyed  the  exorbi- 
tant transgressors.  Now  have  we  sent  down  unto  you,  0 
Koreish,  the  book  of  the  Koran  ;  wherein  there  is  honorable 
mention  of  you :  will  ye  not  therefore  understand  ?  And 
how  many  cities  have  we  overthrown,  which  were  ungodly ; 
and  caused  other  nations  to  rise  up  after  them  ?  And  when 
they  felt  our  severe  vengeance,  behold,  they  fled  swiftly  from 
those  cities.  And  the  angels  said  scofflngly  unto  them,  Do 
not  fly  ;  but  return  to  that  wherein  ye  delighted,  and  to  your 
habitations;  peradventure  ye  will  be  asked.  They  answered, 
Alas  for  us !  verily  we  have  been  unjust.  And  this  their 
lamentation  ceased  not,  until  we  had  rendered  them  like  corn 
which  is  mown  down  and  utterly  extinct.  We  created  not 
the  heavens  and  the  earth,  and  that  which  is  between  them, 
by  way  of  sport.  If  we  had  pleased  to  take  diversion,  verily 
we  had  taken  it  with  that  which  beseemeth  us  ;  if  we  had  re- 
solved to  have  done  this.  But  we  will  oppose  truth  to  vanity, 
and  it  shall  confound  the  same ;  and  behold,  it  shall  vanish 
away.  Woe  be  unto  you,  for  that  which  ye  impiously  utter 
concerning  God!  since  whoever  is  in  heaven  and  on  earth 
»'«  subject  unto  him  ;  and  the  angels  who  are  in  his  presence 
do  not  insolently  disdain  his  service,  neither  are  they  tired 
therewith.  They  praise  him  night  and  day ;  they  faint  not. 
Have  they  taken  gods  from  the  earth  ?  Shall  they  raise  the 
dead  to  life  ?  If  there  were  either  in  heaven  or  on  earth 
gods  besides  GOD,  verily  both  would  be  corrupted.  But  far 
be  that  which  they  utter  from  GOD,  the  LORD  of  the  throne ! 
No  account  shall  be  demanded  of  him  for  what  he  shall  do  ; 
but  an  account  shall  be  demanded  of  them.  Have  they 
taken  other  gods  besides  him !  Say,  Produce  your  proof 
thereof.  This  is  the  admonition  of  those  who  are  contempo- 
rary with  me,  and  the  admonition  of  those  who  have  been 
before  me,  but  the  greater  part  of  them  know  not  the  truth, 
and  turn  aside  from  the  same.  We  have  sent  no  apostle 
before  thee,  but  we  revealed  unto  him  that  there  is  no  god 
beside  myself,  wherefore  serve  me.  They  say,  The  Merciful 
hath  begotten  issue ;  and  the  angels  are  his  daughters.  GOD 
forbid  !  They  are  his  honored  servants,  they  prevent  him 
not  in  anything  which  they  say;  and  they  execute  his  com- 


AL   KORAN.  265 

mand.  He  knoweth  that  which  is  before  them,  and  that 
which  is  behind  them ;  they  shall  not  intercede  for  any, 
except  for  whom  it  shall  please  him ;  and  they  tremble  for 
fear  of  him.  Whoever  of  them  shall  say,  I  am  a  god  besides 
him ;  that  angel  will  we  reward  with  hell :  for  so  will  we 
reward  the  unjust.  Do  not  the  unbelievers  therefore  know, 
that  the  heavens  and  the  earth  were  solid,  and  we  clave  the 
same  in  sunder;  and  made  every  living  thing  of  water? 
Will  they  not  therefore  believe  ?  And  we  placed  stable 
mountains  on  the  earth,  lest  it  should  move  with  them ;  and 
we  made  broad  passages  between  them  for  paths,  that  they 
might  be  directed  in  their  journeys :  and  we  made  the  heaven 
a  roof  well  supported.  Yet  they  turn  aside  from  the  signs 
thereof,  not  considering  that  they  are  the  workmanship  of 
God,  It  is  he  who  hath  created  the  night,  and  the  day,  and 
the  sun,  and  the  moon ;  all  the  celestial  bodies  move  swiftly, 
each  in  its  respective  orb.  We  have  not  granted  unto  any 
man  before  thee  eternal  permanency  in  this  world ;  if  thou 
die,  therefore,  will  they  be  immortal  ?  Every  soul  shall  taste 
of  death  :  and  we  will  prove  /ou  with  evil,  and  with  good,  for 
a  trial  of  you;  and  unto  us  shall  ye  return.  When  the  unbe- 
lievers see  thee,  they  receive  thee  only  with  scoffing,  saying, 
Is  this  he  who  mentioneth  your  gods  with  contempt  ?  Yet 
themselves  believe  not  what  is  mentioned  to  them  of  the 
Merciful.  Man  is  created  of  precipitation.  Hereafter  will 
I  show  you  my  signs,  so  that  ye  shall  not  wish  them  to  be 
hastened.  They  say,  When  will  this  threat  be  accomplished, 
if  ye  speak  truth  ?  If  they  who  believe  not  knew  that  the 
time  will  surely  come,  when  they  shall  not  be  able  to  drive 
back  the  fire  of  hell  from  their  faces,  nor  from  their  backs, 
neither  shall  they  be  helped,  they  would  not  hasten  it.  But 
the  day  of  vengeance  shall  come  upon  them  suddenly,  and 
shall  strike  them  with  astonishment :  they  shall  not  be  able 
to  avert  it,  neither  shall  they  be  respited.  Other  apostles 
have  been  mocked  before  thee ;  but  the  punishment  which 
they  scoffed  at  fell  upon  such  of  them  as  mocked.  Say 
unto  the  scoffers,  Who  shall  save  you  by  night  and  by  day 
from  the  Merciful  ?  Yet  they  utterly  neglect  the  remem- 
brance of  their  LORD.  Have  they  gods  who  will  defend 
them,  besides  us  ?  They  are  not  able  to  help  themselves ; 
neither  shall  they  be  assisted  against  us  by  their  companions, 
But  we  have  permitted  these  men  and  their  fathers  to  enjoy 


266  AL  KORAN. 

worldly  prosperity,  so  long  as  life  was  continued  unto  them. 
Do  they  not  perceive  that  we  come  unto  the  land  of  th« 
unbelievers,  and  straiten  the  borders  thereof?  Shall  they 
therefore  be  the  conquerors  ?  Say,  I  only  preach  unto  you 
the  revelation  of  God:  but  the  deaf  will  not  hear  thy  call, 
whenever  they  are  preached  unto.  Yet  if  the  least  breath 
of  the  punishment  of  thy  LORD  touch  them,  they  will  surely 
say,  Alas  for  us !  verily  we  have  been  unjust.  We  will 
appoint  just  balances  for  the  day  of  resurrection ;  neither 
shall  any  soul  be  injured  at  all :  although  the  merit  or  guilt 
of  an  action  be  of  the  weight  of  a  grain  of  mustard-seed 
only,  we  will  produce  it  publicly  ;  and  there  will  be  sufficient 
accountants  with  us.  We  formerly  gave  unto  Moses  and 
Aaron  the  law,  being  a  distinction  between  good  and  evil,  and 
a  light  and  admonition  unto  the  pious  ;  who  fear  their  LORD 
in  seciet,  and  who  dread  the  hour  of  judgment.  And  this 
book  also  is  a  blessed  admonition,  which  we  have  sent  down 
from  heaven :  will  ye  therefore  deny  it  ?  And  we  gave  unto 
Abraham  his  direction  heretofore,  and  we  knew  him  to  be 
worthy  of  the  revelations  wherewith  he  was  favored.  Remem- 
ber when  he  said  unto  his  father,  and  his  people,  What  are 
these  images,  to  which  ye  are  so  entirely  devoted  ?  They 
answered,  We  found  our  fathers  worshipping  them.  He 
said,  Verily  both  ye  and  your  fathers  have  been  in  a  mani- 
fest error.  They  said,  Dost  thou  seriously  tell  us  the  truth, 
or  art  thou  one  who  jestest  with  us  ?  He  replied,  Verily 
your  LORD  is  the  LORD  of  the  heavens  and  the  earth  ;  it  is 
he  who  hath  created  them :  and  I  am  one  of  those  who  bear 
witness  thereof.  By  GOD,  I  will  surely  devise  a  plot  against 
your  idols,  after  ye  shall  have  retired  from  them,  and  shall 
have  turned  your  backs.1  And  in  the  people's  absence  he  went 
into  the  temple  where  the  idols  stood,  and  he  brake  them  all  in 
pieces,  except  the  biggest  of  them ;  that  they  might  lay  the 
blame  upon  that.  And  when  they  were  returned,  and  saw  the 
\avoc  which  had  been  made,  they  said,  Who  hath  done  this 
to  our  gods  ?  He  is  certainly  an  impious  person.  And  cer- 
tain of  them  answered,  We  heard  a  young  man  speak  re- 
proachfully of  them  :  he  is  named  Abraham.  They  said, 
Bring  him  therefore  before  the  people,  that  they  may  bear 
witness  against  him.  And  when  he  was  brought  before  th« 
attembly,  they  said  unto  him,  Hast  thou  done  this  unto  our 
gods,  O  Abraham  ?  He  answered,  Nay,  that  biggest  of  them 


AL  KORAN.  267 

hath  done  it :  but  ask  them,  if  they  can  speak.  And  they 
returned  unto  themselves,  and  said  the  one  to  the  other,  Verily 
ye  are  the  impious  persons.  Afterwards  they  relapsed  into 
their  former  obstinacy,  and  said,  Verily  thou  knowest  that 
these  speak  not.  Abraham  answered,  Do  ye  therefore  wor- 
ship, besides  GOD,  that  which  cannot  profit  you  at  all,  neither 
can  it  hurt  you  ?  Fie  on  you  :  and  upon  that  which  ye 
worship  besides  GOD  !  Do  ye  not  understand  ?  They  said, 
Burn  him,  and  avenge  your  gods  :  if  ye  do  this  it  will  be  well. 
And  when  Abraham  was  cait  into  the  burning  pile,  we  said, 
O  fire,  be  thou  cold,  and  a  preservation  unto  Abraham.1  And 
they  sought  to  lay  a  plot  against  him :  but  we  caused  them  to 
be  the  sufferers.  2  And  we  delivered  him,  and  Lot,  by  bring- 
ing them  into  the  land  wherein  we  have  blessed  all  creatures. 
And  we  bestowed  on  him  Isaac  and  Jacob,  as  an  additional 
gift :  and  we  made  all  of  them  righteous  persons.  We  also 
made  them  models  of  religion,  that  they  might  direct  others 
by  our  command :  and  we  inspired  into  them  the  doing  of 
good  works,  and  the  observance  of  prayer,  and  the  giving  of 
alms  ;  and  they  served  us.  And  unto  Lot  we  gave  wisdom 
and  knowledge,  and  we  delivered  him  out  of  the  city  which 
committed  filthy  crimes  ;  for  they  were  a  wicked  and  insolent 
people  ;  and  we  led  him  into  our  mercy ;  for  he  was  an 
upright  person.  And  remember  Noah,  when  he  called  for 
destruction  on  his  people,  before  the  prophets  above  mentioned: 
and  we  heard  him,  and  delivered  him  and  his  family  from  a 
great  strait :  and  we  protected  him  from  the  people  who  ac- 
cused our  signs  of  falsehood  ;  for  they  were  a  wicked  people, 
wherefore  we  drowned  them  all.  And  remember  David  and 
Solomon,  when  they  pronounced  judgment  concerning  a  field, 
when  the  sheep  of  certain  people  had  fed  therein  by  night, 
having  no  shepherd ;  and  we  were  witnesses  of  their  judg- 
ment :  and  we  gave  the  understanding  thereof  unto  Solomon. 
And  on  all  of  them  we  bestowed  wisdom,  and  knowledge. 
And  we  compelled  the  mountains  to  praise  us,  with  David ; 
and  the  birds  also :  and  we  did  this.  And  we  taught  him 
the  art  of  making  coats  of  mail  for  you,  that  they  may  defend 
you  in  your  wars  :  will  ye  therefore  be  thankful  ?  And  unto 
Solomon  we  subjected  a  strong  wind :  it  ran  at  his  command 
to  the  land  whereon  we  had  bestowed  our  blessing:  and  we 
knew  all  things.  And  we  alto  subjected  unto  his  command 
divert  of  the  devils,  who  might  dive  to  yet  pearls  for  him, 


268  AL   KORAN. 

and  perform  other  work  besides  this  ;  and  we  watched  ove* 
them.  And  remember  Job ;  when  he  cried  unto  his  LORD, 
taying,  Verily  evil  hath  afflicted  me :  but  thou  art  the  most 
merciful  of  those  who  show  mercy.1  Wherefore  we  heard 
him,  and  relieved  him  from  the  evil  which  was  upon  him : 
and  we  restored  unto  him  his  family,  and  as  many  more  with 
them,  through  our  mercy,  and  for  an  admonition  unto  those 
who  serve  God.  And  remember  Ismael,  and  Edris,  and 
Dhu'lkefl.  All  these  were  patient  persons ;  wherefore  we 
led  them  into  our  mercy ;  for  they  were  righteous  doers. 
And  remember  Dhu'lnun,  when  he  departed  in  wrath,  and 
thought  that  we  could  not  exercise  our  power  over  him.  And 
he  cried  out  in  the  darkness,  saying,  There  is  no  GOD,  be- 
sides thee  :  praise  be  unto  thee !  Verily  I  have  been  one  of 
the  unjust.  Wherefore  we  heard  him,  and  delivered  him 
from  affliction  ;  for  so  do  we  deliver  the  true  believers.  And 
remember  Zacharias,  when  he  called  upon  his  LORD,  saying, 
O  LORD,  leave  me  not  childless :  yet  thou  art  the  best  heir. 
Wherefore  we  heard  him,  and  we  gave  him  John ;  and  we 
rendered  his  wife  fit  for  bearing  a  child  unto  him.  These 
strove  to  excel  in  good  works,  and  called  upon  us  with 
love,  and  with  fear ;  and  humbled  themselves  before  us. 
And  remember  her  who  preserved  her  virginity,  and  into 
whom  we  breathed  of  our  spirit ;  ordaining  her  and  her  son 
for  a  sign  unto  all  creatures.  Verily  this  your  religion  is 
one  religion,  and  I  am  your  LORD  ;  wherefore  serve  me. 
But  the  Jews  and  Christians  have  made  schisms  in  the  affair 
of  their  religion  among  themselves  ;  but  all  of  them  shall 
appear  before  us.  Whosoever  shall  do  good  works,  being  a 
true  believer,  there  shall  be  no  denial  of  the  reward  due  to 
his  endeavors ;  and  we  will  surely  write  it  down  unto  him. 
An  inviolable  prohibition  is  laid  on  every  city  which  we  shall 
have  destroyed  ;  for  that  they  shall  not  return  any  more  into 
the  world,  until  Gog  and  Magog  shall  have  a  passage  opened 
for  them,  and  they  shall  hasten  from  every  high  hill,  and  the 
certain  promise  shall  draw  near  to  be  fulfilled :  and  behold, 
the  eyes  of  the  infidels  shall  be  fixed  with  astonishment,  and 
they  shall  say,  Alas  for  us  !  we  were  formerly  regardless  of 
this  day  ;  yea,  we  were  wicked  doers.  Verily  both  ye,  0 
men  of  Mecca,  and  the  idols  which  ye  worship  besides  GOD, 
thatt  be  cast  as  fuel  into  hell  jire :  ye  shall  go  down  into  the 
W«ne.  Jf  these  were  really  gods,  they  would  not  go  down 


AL  KORAN.  269 

into  the  same  :  and  all  of  them  shall  remain  therein  forever 
In  that  place  shall  they  groan  for  anguish  ;  and  they  shall 
not  hear  aught  therein.  At  for  those  unto  whom  the  most 
excellent  reward  of  paradise  hath  been  predestinated  by  us, 
they  shall  be  transported  far  off  from  the  same ;  they  shall 
not  hear  the  least  sound  thereof:  and  they  shall  continue 
forever  in  the  felicity  which  their  souls  desire.  The  greatest 
terror  shall  not  trouble  them  ;  and  the  angels  shall  meet 
them  to  congratulate  them,  saying,  This  is  your  day  which 
ye  were  promised.  On  that  day  we  will  roll  up  the  heavens, 
as  the  angel  al  Sijil  rolleth  up  the  book  wherein  every  man's 
actions  are  recorded,1  As  we  made  the  first  creature  out  of 
nothing,  so  we  will  also  reproduce  it  at  the  resurrection. 
This  is  a  promise  which  it  lietk  on  us  to  fulfil:  we  will  surely 
perform  it.  And  now  have  we  written  in  the  psalms,  after 
the  promulgation  of  the  law,  ihat  my  servants  the  righteous 
shall  inherit  the  earth.  Verily  in  this  book  are  contained 
sufficient  means  of  salvation,  unto  people  who  serve  God. 
We  have  not  sent  thee,  0  Mohammed,  but  as  a  mercy  unto 
all  creatures.  Say,  No  other  hath  been  revealed  unto  me, 
than  that  your  GOD  is  one  GOD  :  vritt  ye  therefore  be  re- 
signed unto  him  ?  But  if  they  turn  their  backs  to  the  con- 
fession of  God's  unity,  say,  I  proclaim  war  against  you  all 
equally :  but  I  know  not  whether  that  which  ye  are  threat- 
ened with  be  nigh,  or  whether  it  be  far  distant.  Verily  God 
knoweth  the  discourse  which  is  spoken  in  public  ;  and  he 
also  knoweth  that  which  ye  hold  in  private.  I  know  not  but 
peradventure  the  respite  granted  you  is  for  a  trial  of  you  ; 
and  that  ye  may  enjoy  the  prosperity  of  this  world  for  a  time. 
Say,  LORD,  judge  between  me  and  my  adversaries  with  truth. 
Our  LORD  is  the  Merciful ;  whose  assistance  it  to  be  im- 
plored against  the  blasphemiet  and  calumnies  which  ye  utter. 


270  AL  KOBAJf. 

CHAPTER  XXIL 

IHTiTLED,   TH«   PILGRIMAGE  ;    REVEALED    AT    MBOOA. 
15    THB   KAMK   OF    THE   MOST   MERCIFUL   GOD. 

O  MEN  of  Mecca,  fear  your  LORD.  Verily  the  shock  of 
the  last  hour  witt  be  a  terrible  thing.  On  the  day  whereon 
ye  shall  see  it,  every  woman  who  giveth  suck  shall  forget 
t he  infant  which  she  suckleth,  and  every  female  that  is  with 
young  shall  cast  her  burden ;  and  thou  shalt  see  men  seem- 
ingly drunk,  yet  they  shall  not  be  really  drunk :  but  the 
punishment  of  GOD  witt  be  severe.  There  is  a  man  who 
disputeth  concerning  GOD  without  knowledge,  and  followeth 
every  rebellious  devil :  against  whom  it  is  written,  that  who- 
ever shall  take  him  for  his  patron,  he  shall  surely  seduce. 
him,  and  shall  lead  him  into  the  torment  of  hell.  0  men, 
if  ye  be  in  doubt  concerning  the  resurrection,  consider  that 
we  first  created  you  of  the  dust  of  the  ground  ;  afterwards, 
of  seed  ;  afterwards,  of  a  little  coagulated  blood  ;  afterwards, 
of  a  piece  of  flesh,  perfectly  formed  in  part,  and  in  part  im- 
perfectly formed ;  that  we  might  make  our  power  manifest 
unto  you :  and  we  caused  that  which  we  please  to  rest  in  the 
wombs,  until  the  appointed  time  of  delivery.  Then  we 
bring  you  forth  infants ;  and  afterwards  we  permit  you  to 
attain  your  age  of  full  strength  :  and  one  of  you  dieth  in  hit 
youth,  and  another  of  you  is  postponed  to  a  decrepit  age,  so 
that  he  forgetteth  whatever  he  knew.  Thou  seest  the  earth 
sometimes  dried  up  and  barren :  but  when  we  send  down 
rain  thereon,  it  is  put  in  motion  and  swelleth,  and  produceth 
every  kind  of  luxuriant  vegetabks.  This  showeth  that  GOD 
is  the  truth,  and  that  he  raiseth  the  dead  to  life,  and  that  he 
is  almighty ;  and  that  the  hour  of  judgment  will  surely  come 
(there  is  no  doubt  thereof),  and  that  GOD  will  raise  again 
those  who  are  in  the  graves.  There  is  a  man  who  disputeth 
concerning  GOD  without  either  knowledge,  or  a  direction,  or 
an  enlightening  book ;  proudly  turning  his  side,  that  he  may 
seduce  men  from  the  way  of  GOD.  Ignominy  shot!  attend 
him  in  this  world ;  and  on  the  day  of  resurrection  we  will 
make  him  taste  the  torment  of  burning,  when  it  shall  be  said 


AL  KORAN.  271 

unto  him,  This  thou  tufferest  because  of  that  which  thy  hands 
have  formerly  committed ;  for  GOD  is  not  unjust  towards 
mankind.  There  are  some  men  who  serve  (TOD  in  a  waver- 
ing manner,  standing,  as  it  were,  on  the  verge  of  the  true 
religion.  If  good  befall  one  of  them,  he  resteth  satisfied 
therein  ;  but  if  any  tribulation  befall  him,  he  turneth  himself 
round,  with  the  loss  both  of  this  world,  and  of  the  life  to 
oome.  This  is  manifest  perdition.  He  will  call  upon  that, 
besides  GOD,  which  can  neither  hurt  him,  nor  profit  him 
This  is  an  error  remote  from  truth.  He  will  invoke  him 
irho  will  sooner  be  of  hurt  to  his  worshipper  than  of  advan- 
tage. Such  is  surely  a  miserable  patron,  and  a  miserable 
companion.  But  GOD  will  introduce  those  who  shall  believe, 
and  do  righteous  works,  into  gardens  through  which  rivers 
flow ;  for  GOD  doth  that  which  he  pleaseth.  Whoso  think- 
eth  that  GOD  will  not  assist  his  apostle  in  this  world,  and  in 
the  world  to  come,  let  him  strain  a  rope  towards  heaven,  then 
let  him  put  an  end  to  his  life,  and  see  whether  his  devices 
can  render  that  ineffectual,  for  which  he  was  angry.  Thus 
do  we  send  down  the  Koran,  being  evident  signs :  for  GOD 
directeth  whom  he  pleaseth.  As  to  the  true  believers,  and 
those  who  Judaize,  and  the-Sabians,  and  the  Christians,  and 
the  Magians,  and  the  idolaters ;  verily  GOD  shall  judge  be- 
tween them  on  the  day  of  resurrection  ;  for  GOD  is  witness 
of  all  things.  Dost  thou  not  perceive  that  all  creatures  both 
in  heaven  and  on  earth  adore  GOD  ;  and  the  sun,  and  the 
moon,  and  the  stars,  and  the  mountains,  and  the  trees,  and 
the  beasts,  and  many  men  ?  but  many  are  worthy  of  chastise- 
ment :  and  whomsoever  GOD  shall  render  despicable,  there 
shall  be  none  to  honor  ;  for  GOD  doth  that  which  he  pleaseth. 
These  are  two  opposite  parties,  who  dispute  concerning  their 
LORD.  And  they  who  believe  not  shall  have  garments  of 
fire  fitted  unto  them  :  boiling  water  shall  be  poured  on  their 
heads  ;  their  bowels  shall  be  dissolved  thereby,  and  also  their 
skins ;  and  they  shall  be  beaten  with  maces  of  iron.  So 
often  as  they  shall  endeavor  to  get  out  of  hell,  because  of  the 
anguish  of  their  torments,  they  shall  be  dragged  back  into 
the  same  ;  and  their  tormentors  shall  say  unto  them,  Taste  ye 
the  pain  of  burning.  GOD  will  introduce  those  who  shall 
believe,  and  act  righteously,  into  gardens  through  which 
rivers  flow :  they  shall  be  adorned  therein  with  bracelets  of 
gold,  and  pearls  :  and  their  vestures  therein  shall  be  silk. 


272  AL  KORA5. 

They  are  directed  unto  a  good  sayfag ;  and  are  directed  into 
the  honorable  way.  But  they  who  shall  disbelieve,  and  ob- 
struct the  way  of  GOD,  and  hinder  men  from  visiting  the 
holy  temple  of  Mecca,  which  we  have  appointed  for  a  place 
of  worship  unto  all  men :  the  inhabitant  thereof,  and  the 
stranger  have  an  equal  right  to  visit  it :  and  whosoever  shall 
seek  impiously  to  profane  it,  we  will  cause  him  to  taste  a 
grievous  torment.  Call  to  mind  when  we  gave  the  site  of 
the  house  of  the  Caaba  for  an  abode  unto  Abraham,  saying, 
Do  not  associate  anything  with  me ;  and  cleanse  my  house 
for  those  who  compass  it,  and  who  stand  up,  and  who  bow 
down  to  worship.  And  proclaim  unto  the  people  a  solemn 
pilgrimage ;  let  them  come  unto  thee  on  foot,  and  on  every 
lean  camel,  arriving  from  every  distant  road ;  that  they  may 
be  witnesses  of  the  advantages  which  accrue  to  them  from  the 
visiting  this  holy  place,  and  may  commemorate  the  name  of 
GOD  on  the  appointed  days,  in  gratitude  for  the  brute  cattle 
which  he  hath  bestowed  on  them.  Wherefore  eat  thereof, 
and  feed  the  needy,  and  the  poor.  Afterwards  let  them  put 
an  end  to  the  neglect  of  their  persons ;  and  let  them  pay 
their  vows,  and  compass  the  ancient  house.1  This  let  them  do. 
And  whoever  shall  regard  the  sacred  ordinances  of  GOD,  this 
will  be  better  for  him  in  the  sight  of  his  LORD.  All  sorts 
of  cattle  are  allowed  you  to  eat,  except  what  hath  been  read 
unto  you,  in  former  passages  of  the  Koran,  to  be  forbidden. 
But  depart  from  the  abomination  of  idols,  and  avoid  speak- 
ing that  which  is  false :  being  orthodox  in  respect  to  GOD, 
associating  no  other  god  with  him  ;  for  whoever  associateth, 
any  other  with  GOD  is  like  that  which  falleth  from  heaven, 
and  which  the  birds  snatch  away,  or  the  wind  bloweth  to  a 
far  distant  place.  This  is  so.  And  whoso  maketh  valuable 
offerings  unto  GOD,  verily  they  proceed  from  the  piety  of 
nen's  hearts.  Ye  receive  various  advantages  from  the  cattle 
designed  for  sacrifices,  until  a  determined  time  for  slaying 
hem :  then  the  place  of  sacrificing  them  is  at  the  ancient 
house.  Unto  the  professors  of  every  religion  have  we  ap- 
pointed certain  rites,  that  they  may  commemorate  the  name 
of  GOD  on  slaying  the  brute  cattle  which  he  hath  provided 
tor  them.  Your  GOD  is  one  GOD  :  wherefore  resign  your- 
selves wholly  unto  him.  And  do  thou  bear  good  tidings  unto 
those  who  humble  themselves ;  whose  hearts,  when  mention 
U  made  of  GOD,  are  struck  with  fear ;  and  unto  those  who 


AL  KORAK.  278 

patiently  endure  that  which  befalleth  them  j  and  who  dulj 
perform  their  prayers,  and  give  alms  out  of  what  we  have 
bestowed  on  them.  The  caraels  slain  for  sacrifice  have  we 
appointed  for  you  as  symbols  of  your  obedience  unto  GOD 
ye  also  receive  other  advantages  from  them.  Wherefore 
commemorate  the  name  of  GOD  over  them,  when  ye  slay 
standing  on  their  feet  disposed  in  right  order :  and 
hey  are  fallen  down  dead,  eat  of  them ;  and  give  to 
thereof  both  unto  him  who  is  content  with  what  is  given 
without  asking,  and  unto  him  who  asketh.  Thus  have  we 
given  you  dominion  ovsr  them,  that  ye  might  return  ut 
thanks.  Their  flesh  is  not  accepted  of  GOD,  neither  their 
blood  ;  but  your  piety  is  accepted  of  him.  Thus  have  we 
given  you  dominion  over  them,  that  ye  might  magnify  GOD, 
for  the  revelations  whereby  he  hath  directed  you.  And  bear 
good  tidings  unto  the  righteous,  that  GOD  will  repel  the  iU, 
designs  of  the  infidels  from  the  true  believers  ;  for  GOD 
loveth  not  every  perfidious  unbeliever.  Permission  is  granted 
unto  those  who  take  arms  against  the  unbelievers,  for  that  they 
have  been  unjustly  persecuted  by  them  (and  GOD  is  certainly 
able  to  assist  them)  :  who  have  been  turned  out  of  their  hab- 
itations injuriously,  and  for  no  other  reason  than  because 
they  say,  Our  LORD  is  GOD.  And  if  GOD  did  not  repel  the 
violence  of  some  men  by  others,  verily  monasteries,  and 
churches,  and  synagogues,  and  the  temples  of  the  Moslems, 
wherein  the  name  of  GOD  is  frequently  commemorated, 
would  be  utterly  demolished.  And  GOD  will  certainly  assist 
him  who  shall  be  on  his  side :  for  GOD  it  strong  and  mighty. 
And  he  will  assist  those  who,  if  we  establish  them  in  the 
earth,  will  observe  prayer,  and  give  alms,  and  command  that 
which  is  just,  and  forbid  that  which  is  unjust.  And  unto 
GOD  shall  be  the  end  of  all  things.  If  they  accuse  thee,  0 
Mohammed,  of  imposture  ;  consider  that,  before  Ibem,  the 
people  of  Noah,  and  the  tribes  of  Ad  and  Thamud,  and  the 
people  of  Abraham,  and  the  people  of  Lot,  and  the  inhabitants 
of  Madian,  accused  their  prophets  of  imposture  :  and  Moses 
was  also  charged  with  falsehood.  And  I  granted  a  long 
respite  unto  the  unbelievers  :  but  afterwards  I  chastised 
them ;  and  how  different  was  the  change  I  made  in  their 
condition !  How  many  cities  have  we  destroyed,  which 
were  ungodly,  and  which  are  now  fallen  to  ruin  on  their 
roofs  'f  And  how  many  wells  have  been  abandoned,  and  lofty 

18 


274  AL  KORAN. 

castles  ?  Do  they  not  therefore  journey  through  the  land  ? 
And  have  they  not  hearts  to  understand  with,  or  ears  to  hear 
with  ?  Surely  as  to  these  things  their  eyes  are  not  blind,  but 
the  hearts  are  blind  which  are  in  their  breasts.  They  will 
urge  thee  to  hasten  the  threatened  punishment ;  but  GOD  will 
not  fail  to  perform  what  he  hath  threatened  :  and  verily  nne 
day  with  thy  LORD  is  as  a  thousand  years,  of  those  which 
ye  compute.  Unto  how  many  cities  have  I  granted  respite, 
though  they  were  wicked  ?  Yet  afterwards  I  chastised  them : 
and  unto  me  shall  they  come  to  be  judged  at  the  last  day. 
Say,  O  men,  verily  I  am  only  a  public  preacher  unto  you. 
And  they  who  believe,  and  do  good  works,  shall  obtain  for- 
giveness and  an  honorable  provision.  But  those  who  en- 
deavor to  make  our  signs  of  none  effect  shall  be  the  inhabi- 
tants of  hell.  We  have  sent  no  apostle,  or  prophet,  before 
thee,  but,  when  he  read,  Satan  suggested  some  error  in  his 
reading.  But  GOD  shall  make  void  that  which  Satan  hath 
suggested :  then  shall  GOD  confirm  his  signs ;  for  GOD  is 
knowing  and  wise.  But  this  he  permitteth,  that  he  may  make 
that  which  Satan  hath  suggested,  a  temptation  unto  those  in 
whose  hearts  there  is  an  infirmity,  and  whose  hearts  are 
nardened  (for  the  ungodly  are  certainly  in  a  wide  disagree- 
ment from  the  truth) :  and  that  they  on  whom  knowledge 
hath  been  bestowed  may  know  that  this  book  is  the  truth 
from  thy  LORD,  and  may  believe  therein  ;  and  that  their 
hearts  may  acquiesce  in  the  same :  for  GOD  is  surely  the 
director  of  those  who  believe,  into  the  right  way.  But  the 
infidels  will  not  cease  to  doubt  concerning  it,  until  the  hour 
of  judgment  cometh  suddenly  upon  them ;  or  until  the  pun- 
ishment of  a  grievous  day  overtake  them.  On  that  day  the 
kingdom  shall  be  GOD'S  :  he  shall  judge  between  them. 
And  they  who  shall  have  believed,  and  shall  have  wrought 
righteousness,  shall  be  in  gardens  of  pleasure ;  but  they  who 
shall  have  disbelieved,  and  shall  have  charged  our  signs  with 
falsehood,  those  shall  suffer  a  shameful  punishment.  And  as 
to  those  who  shall  have  fled  their  country  for  the  sake  of 
GOD'S  true  religion,  and  afterwards  shall  have  been  slain,  or 
shall  have  died ;  on  them  will  GOD  bestow  an  excellent  pro- 
vision ;  and  GOD  is  the  best  provider.  He  will  surely  intro- 
duce them  with  an  introduction  with  which  they  shall  be  welj 
pleased ;  for  GOD  is  knowing  and  gracious.  This  it  to. 
Whoever  shall  take  a  vengeance  equal  to  the  injury  which 


AL  KORAN.  275 

h&th  been  done  him,  and  shall  afterwards  be  unjustly  treated 
verily  GOD  will  assist  him :  for  GOD  is  merciful,  and  ready 
to  forgive.  This  shall  be  done,  for  that  GOD  causeth  the 
night  to  succeed  the  day,  and  he  causeth  the  day  to  succeed 
the  night ;  and  for  that  GOD  both  heareth  and  seeth.  This, 
because  GOD  is  truth,  and  because  what  they  invoke  besides 
him  is  vanity;  and  for  that  GOD  is  the  high,  the  mighty. 
Dost  thou  not  see  that  GOD  sendeth  down  water  from  heaven, 
and  the  earth  becometh  green  ?  for  GOD  is  gracious  and 
vise.  Unto  him  belongeth  whatsoever  is  in  heaven  and  on 
»arth  :  and  GOD  is  self-sufficient,  worthy  to  be  praised 
Dost  thou  not  see  that  GOD  hath  subjected  whatever  is  in 
the  earth  to  your  service,  and  also  the  ships  which  sail  in  the 
sea,  by  his  command  ?  And  he  withholdeth  the  heaven  that 
it  fall  not  on  the  earth,  unless  by  his  permission :  for  GOD  it 
gracious  unto  mankind,  and  merciful.  It  is  he  who  hath 
given  you  life,  and  will  hereafter  cause  you  to  die ;  after- 
wards he  will  again  raise  you  to  life,  at  the  resurrection: 
but  man  is  surely  ungrateful.  Unto  the  professors  of  every 
religion  have  we  appointed  certain  rites,  which  they  observe. 
Let  them  not  therefore  dispute  with  thee  concerning  this  mat- 
ter :  but  invite  them  unto  thy  LORD  :  for  thou  followest  the 
right  direction.  But  if  they  enter  into  debate  with  thee, 
answer,  GOD  well  knoweth  that  which  ye  do:  GOD  will 
judge  between  you  on  the  day  of  resurrection,  concerning 
that  wherein  ye  now  disagree.  Dost  thou  not  know  that  GOD 
knoweth  whatever  is  in  heaven  and  on  earth  ?  Verily  this 
is  written  in  the  book  of  his  decrees :  this  is  easy  with  GOD. 
They  worship,  besides  GOD,  that  concerning  which  he  hath 
sent  down  no  convincing  proof,  and  concerning  which  they 
have  no  knowledge  :  but  the  unjust  doers  shall  have  none  to 
assist  them.  And  when  our  evident  signs  are  rehearsed  unto 
them,  thou  mayest  perceive,  in  the  countenances  of  the  un- 
believers, a  disdain  thereof:  it  wanteth  little  but  that  they 
rush  with  violence  on  those  who  rehearse  our  signs  unto 
them.  Say,  Shall  I  declare  unto  you  a  worse  thing  than 
this  ?  The  fire  of  hell,  which  GOD  hath  threatened  unto 
those  who  believe  not,  is  worse  ;  and  an  unhappy  journey 
shall  it  be  thither.  0  men,  a  parable  is  propounded  unto  you; 
wherefore  hearken  unto  it.  Verily  the  idols  which  ye  invoke, 
besides  •  GOD,  can  never  create  a  single  fly,  although  they 
wore  all  assembled  for  that  purpose:  and  it  *he  fly 


276  AL  KORAN. 

anything  from  them,  they  cannot  recover  the  same  from  it 
Weak  is  the  petitioner,  and  the  petitioned.  They  judge  not 
of  GOD  according  to  his  due  estimation.'  for  GOD  is  power- 
ful and  mighty.  GOD  chooseth  messengers  from  among  the 
angels,  and  from  among  men :  for  GOD  is  he  who  heareth 
and  seeth.  He  knoweth  that  which  is  before  them,  and  that 
which  is  behind  them  :  and  unto  GOD  shall  all  things  return. 
O  true  believers,  bow  down,  and  prostrate  yourselves,  and 
worship  your  LORD  ;  and  work  righteousness,  that  ye  may 
be  happy :  and  fight  in  defence  of  GOD'S  true  religion,  as  it 
behooveth  you  to  fight  for  the  same.  He  hath  chosen  you, 
and  hath  not  imposed  on  you  any  difficulty  in  the  religion 
which  he  hath  given  you,  the  religion  of  your  father  Abra- 
ham :  he  hath  named  you  Moslems  heretofore,  and  in  this 
book  ;  that  our  apostle  may  be  a  witness  against  you  at  the 
day  of  judgment,  and  that  ye  may  be  witnesses  against  the 
rest  of  mankind.  Wherefore  be  ye  constant  at  prayer ;  and 
give  alms :  and  adhere  firmly  unto  GOD.  He  is  your  mas- 
ter ;  and  he  is  the  best  master,  and  the  best  protector. 


CHAPTER   XXTTT. 

INTITLKD,  THE   TRUE   BELIEVERS  ;    REVEALED     AT    MECCA. 

IN    THE    NAME    OF    THE    MOST    MERCIFUL    GOD. 

iVow  are  the  true  believers  happy  :  who  humble  themselves 
in  their  prayer,  and  who  eschew  all  vain  discourse,  and  who 
are  doers  of  alms-deeds  ;  and  who  keep  themselves  from  car- 
nal knowledge  of  any  women  except  their  wives,  or  the 
captives  which  their  right  hands  possess  (tor  as  to  them  they 
shall  be  blameless :  but  whosoever  coveteth  any  woman  be- 
yond these,  they  are  transgressors) :  and  who  acquit  them- 
selves faithfully  of  their  trust,  and  justly  perform  their 
covenant ;  and  who  observe  their  appointed  times  of  prayer : 
these  shall  be  the  heirs,  who  shall  inherit  paradise  ;  they 
shall  continue  therein  forever.  We  formerly  created  man  in 
a  finer  sort  of  clay ;  afterwards  we  placed  him  in  the  form  of 
•eed  in  a  sure  receptacle :  afterwards  we  made  the  seed  foag- 


AL  KORAN.  /77 

blood;  and  we  formed  the  coagulated  blood  into  a 
piece  of  flesh :  then  we  formed  the  piece  of  flesh  into  bones  : 
and  we  clothed  those  bones  with  flesh  :  then  we  produced  the 
same  by  another  creation.  Wherefore  blessed  be  GOD,  the 
most  excellent  Creator  !  After  this  shall  ye  die :  and  after- 
wards shall  ye  be  restored  to  life,  on  the  day  of  resurrection. 
And  we  have  created  over  you 'seven  heavens:  and  we  are 
not  negligent  of  what  we  have  created. l  And  we  send  down 
rain  from  heaven,  by  measure ;  and  we  cause  it  to  remain  on 
the  earth :  we  are  also  certainly  able  to  deprive  you  of  the 
UUUA  And  we  cause  gardens  of  palm-trees,  and  vineyards, 
to  spring  forth  for  you  by  means  thereof;  wherein  ye  have 
many  fruits,  and  whereof  ye  eat.  And  we  also  raise  for  you 
a  tree  springing  from  Mount  Sinai ;  which  produceth  oil,  and 
a  sauce  for  those  who  eat.  Ye  have  likewise  an  instruction 
in  the  cattle ;  we  give  you  to  drink  of  the  milk  which  is  in 
their  bellies,  and  ye  receive  many  advantages  from  them ; 
and  of  them  do  ye  eat :  and  on  them,  and  on  ships,  are  ye 
carried.  We  sent  Noah  heretofore  unto  his  people,  and  he 
said,  O  my  people,  serve  GOD  :  ye  have  no  GOD  besides 
him :  will  ye  therefore  not  fear  the  consequence  of  your  wor- 
shipping other  gods  ?  And  the  chiefs  of  his  people,  who 
believed  not,  said,  This  is  no  other  than  a  man,  as  ye  are : 
he  seeketh  to  raise  himself  to  a  superiority  over  you.  If 
GOD  had  pleased  to  have  sent  a  messenger  unto  you,  he  would 
surely  have  sent  angels  :  we  have  not  heard  this  of  our  fore- 
fathers. Verily  he  is  no  other  tha.i  a  man  disturbed  with 
frenzy  •  wherefore  wait  concerning  him  for  a  time.  Noah 
said,  'J  LORD,  do  thou  protect  me ;  for  that  they  accuse  me 
of  falsehood.  And  we  revealed  our  orders  unto  him,  saying, 
Make  the  ark  in  our  sight ;  and  according  to  our  revelation. 
And  when  our  decree  cometh  to  be  executed,  and  the  oven 
shall  boil  and  pour  forth  water,  carry  into  it  of  every  species 
of  animals  one  pair ;  and  also  thy  family,  except  such  of 
them  on  whom  a  previous  sentence  of  destruction  hath 
passed :  and  speak  not  unto  me  in  behalf  of  those  who  have 
been  unjust ;  for  they  shall  be  drowned.  And  when  thou  and 
'hey  who  shall  be  with  thee  shall  go  up  into  the  ark,  say 
Praise  be  unto  GOD,  who  hath  delivered  us  from  the  ungodly 
people !  And  say,  0  LORD,  cause  me  to  come  down  from 
ikis  ark  with  a  blessed  descent ;  for  thou  art  the  best  able  to 
bring  me  down  from  the  same  with  safety.  Verily  herein 


178  AL  KORAN. 

were  signs  of  our  omnipotence;  and  we  proved  mankind 
thereby.  Afterwards  we  raised  up  another  generation  after 
them  ;  and  we  sent  unto  them  an  apostle  from  among  them, 
who  said,  Worship  GOD  :  ye  have  no  GOD  besides  him  ;  will 
ye  therefore  not  fear  his  vengeance  ?  And  the  chiefs  of  his 
people,  who  believed  not,  and  who  denied  the  meeting  of  the 
life  to  come,  and  on  whom  we  had  bestowed  affluence  in  this 
present  life,  said,  This  is  no  other  than  a  man,  as  ye  are ;  he 
eateth  of  that  whereof  ye  eat,  and  he  drinketh  of  that  where- 
of ye  drink :  and  if  ye  obey  a  man  like  unto  yourselves,  ye 
will  surely  be  sufferers.  Doth  he  threaten  you  that  after  ye 
Bhall  be  dead,  and  shall  become  dust  and  bones,  ye  shall  be 
brought  forth  alive  from  your  graves  ?  Away,  away  with 
that  ye  are  threatened  with !  There  is  no  other  life  besides 
our  present  life :  we  die,  and  we  live ;  and  we  shall  not  be 
raised  again.  This  is  no  other  than  a  man,  who  deviseth  a  lie 
concerning  GOD  :  but  we  will  not  believe  him.  Their  apostle 
said,  O  LORD,  defend  me  ;  for  that  they  have  accused  me  of 
imposture.  God  answered,  After  a  little  while  they  shall 
surely  repent  their  obstinacy.  Wherefore  a  severe  punish- 
ment was  justly  inflicted  on  them,  and  we  rendered  them  like 
the  refuse  which  is  carried  down  by  a  stream.  Away  there- 
fore with  the  ungodly  people !  Afterwards  we  raised  up 
other  generations  after  them.  No  nation  shall  be  punished 
before  their  determined  time ;  neither  shall  they  be  i-espited 
after.  Afterwards  we  sent  our  apostles,  one  after  another. 
So  often  as  their  apostle  came  unto  any  nation,  they  charged 
him  with  imposture :  and  we  caused  them  successively  to 
follow  one  another  to  destruction;  and  we  made  them  only 
subjects  of  traditional  stories.  Away  therefore  with  the  un- 
believing nations  !  Afterwards  we  sent  Moses,  and  Aaron 
his  brother,  with  our  signs  and  manifest  power,  unto  Pharaoh 
and  his  princes :  but  they  proudly  refused  to  believe  on  him  ; 
for  they  were  a  haughty  people.  And  they  said,  Shall  we 
believe  on  two  men  like  unto  ourselves ;  whose  people  are 
our  servants  ?  And  they  accused  them  of  imposture  :  where- 
fore they  became  of  the  number  of  those  who  were  destroyed. 
And  we  heretofore  gave  the  book  of  the  law  unto  Moses,  that 
the  children  of  Israel  might  be  directed  thereby.  And  we 
appointed  the  son  of  Mary,  and  his  mother,  for  a  sign :  and 
we  prepared  an  abode  for  them  in  an  elevated  part  of  the 
earth,  being  a  place  of  quiet  and  security,  and  watered  with 


AL  KORAN.  279 

.tinning  springs.  O  apostles,  eat  of  those  things  which  arc 
good ;  and  work  righteousness :  for  I  well  know  that  which 
ye  do.  This  your  religion  is  one  religion ;  and  I  am  your 
LOKD  :  wherefore  fear  me.  But  men  have  rent  the  affair  of 
their  religion  into  various  sects  :  every  party  rejoiceth  hi  that 
which  they  follow.  Wherefore  leave  them  in  their  confusion, 
until  a  certain  time.  Do  they  think  that  we  hasten  unto 
them  the  wealth  and  children  which  we  have  abundantly  be- 
stowed on  them,  for  their  good  ?  But  they  do  not  understand 
Vevily  they  who  stand  in  awe,  for  fear  of  their  LORD,  and 
who  believe  in  the  signs  of  their  LORD,  and  who  attribute 
not  companions  unto  their  LORD  ;  and  who  give  that  which 
they  give  in  alms,  their  hearts  being  struck  with  dread,  for 
that  they  must  return  unto  their  LORD  :  these  hasten  unto 
good,  and  are  foremost  to  obtain  the  same.  We  will  not  im- 
pose any  difficulty  on  a  soul,  except  according  to  its  ability ; 
with  us  is  a  book,  which  speaketh  the  truth ;  and  they  shall 
not  be  injured.  But  their  hearts  are  drowned  in  negligence, 
•»s  to  this  matter:  and  they  have  works  different  from  those 
we  have  mentioned;  which  they  will  continue  to  do,  until 
when  we  chastise  such  of  them  as  enjoy  an  affluence  of  for- 
tune, by  a  severe  punishment,  behold,  they  cry  aloud  for  help  : 
but  it  shall  be  answered  them,  Cry  not  for  help  to-day :  for  ye 
shall  not  be  assisted  by  us.  My  signs  were  read  unto  you,  but 
ye  turned  back  on  your  heels :  proudly  elating  yourselves  be- 
cause of  your  possessing  tJu  holy  temple  ;  discoursing  together 
by  night,  and  talking  foolishly.  Do  they  not  therefore  atten- 
tively consider  that  which  is  spoken  unto  them  ;  whether  a 
revelation  is  come  unto  them  which  came  not  unto  their  fore- 
fathers ?  Or  do  they  not  know  their  apostle  ;  and  therefore 
reject  him  ?  Or  do  they  say,  He  is  a  madman  ?  Nay,  he  hath 
come  unto  them  with  the  truth ;  but  the  greater  part  of  them 
detest  the  truth.  If  the  truth  had  followed  their  desires,  verily 
the  heavens  and  the  earth,  and  whoever  therein  is,  had  been 
corrupted.  But  we  have  brought  them  their  admonition  ;  and 
they  turn  aside  from  their  admonition.  Dost  thou  ask  of  them 
any  maintenance  for  thy  preaching  ?  since  the  maintenance 
of  thy  LORD  is  better ;  for  he  is  the  most  bounteous  provider. 
Thou  certainly  invitest  them  to  the  right  way :  and  they  who 
Velieve  not  in  the  life  to  come,  do  surely  deviate  from  that 
way.  If  we  had  had  compassion  on  them,  and  taken  off  from 
them  the  calamity  which  had  befallen  them,  they  would 


280  AL  KORAN 

surely  have  in  JIT.  obstinately  persisted  in  their  error,  wan 
dering  in  confusion.  We  formerly  chastised  them  with  a 
punishment :  yet  they  did  not  humble  themselves  before  their 
LORD,  neither  did  they  make  supplications  unto  him  ;  until, 
when  we  have  opened  upon  them  a  door,  from  which  a  severe 
punishment  hath  issued,  behold  they  are  driven  to  despair 
thereat.  It  is  God  who  hath  created  in  you  the  senses  of 
hearing  and  of  sight,  that  ye  may  perceive  our  judgments , 
and  hearts,  that  ye  may  seriously  consider  them  :  yet  how  fe\\ 
of  you  give  thanks  !  It  is  he  who  hath  produced  you  in  the 
earth  ;  and  before  him  shall  ye  be  assembled.  It  is  he  who 
giveth  life,  and  pulteth  to  death  ;  and  to  him  it  to  be  attrib- 
uted the  vicissitude  of  night  and  day :  do  ye  not  therefore 
understand  ?  But  the  unbelieving  Meccans  say  as  their  pred- 
ecessors said :  they  say,  When  we  shall  be  dead,  and  shall 
have  become  dust  and  bones,  shall  we  really  be  raised  to  life  ? 
We  have  already  been  threatened  with  this,  and  our  fathers 
also  heretofore :  this  is  nothing  but  fables  of  the  ancients. 
Say,  Whose  is  the  earth,  and  whoever  therein  is,  if  ye  know  ? 
They  will  answer,  GOD'S.  Say,  Will  ye  not  therefore  con- 
sider ?  Say,  Who  is  the  LORD  of  the  seven  heavens,  and 
the  LORD  of  the  magnificent  throne?  They  will  answer, 
They  are  GOD'S.  Say,  Will  ye  not  therefore  fear  him  ? 
Say,  In  whose  hand  is  the  kingdom  of  all  things ;  who  pro- 
tecteth  whom  he  pleaseth,  but  is  himself  protected  of  none ; 
if  ye  know  ?  They  will  answer,  In  GOD'S.  Say,  How 
therefore  are  ye  bewitched  ?  Yea,  we  have  brought  them 
the  truth ;  and  they  are  certainly  liars  in  denying  (he  same. 
GOD  hath  not  begotten  issue ;  neither  is  there  any  other 
god  with  him :  otherwise  every  god  had  surely  taken  away 
that  which  he  had  created ;  and  some  of  them  had  exalted 
themselves  above  the  others.  Far  be  that  from  GOD,  which 
they  affirm  of  him !  He  knoweth  that  which  is  concealed, 
and  that  which  is  made  public  :  wherefore  far  be  it  from  him 
to  have  those  sharers  in  his  honor  which  they  attribute  to 
him !  Say,  O  LORD,  If  thou  wilt  surely  cause  me  to  see  the 
vengeance  with  which  they  have  been  threatened ;  0  LORD, 
set  me  not  among  the  ungodly  people  :  for  we  are  surely  able 
to  make  thee  see  that  with  which  we  have  threatened  them 
Turn  aside  evil  with  that  which  is  better  :  we  well  know  th« 
wlumnies  which  they  utter  against  thee.  And  say,  O  LORD 
I  fly  unto  thee  for  refuge,  against  the  suggestions  of  the  devil* 


AL  KORAN.  281 

and  I  have  recourse  unto  thee,  0  LORD,  to  drive  them  away, 
that  they  be  not  present  with  me.  The  gainsaying  of  the 
unbelievert  ceateth  not  until,  when  death  overtaketh  any  o. 
them,  he  saith,  O  LORD,  suffer  me  to  return  to  life,  that  I  may 
do  that  which  is  right ;  in  professing  the  true  faith  which  I 
have  neglected.  By  no  means.  Verily  these  are  the  words 
which  ye  shall  speak :  but  behind  them  there  shall  be  a  bar, 
until  the  day  of  resurrection.1  When  therefore  the  trumpet 
Bhall  be  sounded,  there  shall  be  no  relation  between  them 
which  shatt  be  regarded  on  that  day ;  neither  shall  they  ask 
assistance  of  each  other.  They  whose  balances  shall  be 
heavy  with  good  works  shall  be  happy ;  but  they  whose  bal- 
ances shall  be  light  are  those  who  shall  lose  their  souls,  and 
shall  remain  in  hell  forever.  The  fire  shall  scorch  their 
faces,  and  they  shall  writhe  their  mouths  therein  for  anguish : 
and  it  shall  be  said  unto  them,  Were  not  my  signs  rehearsed 
unto  you  ;  and  did  ye  not  charge  them  with  falsehood  ?  They 
shall  answer,  0  LORD,  our  unhappiness  prevailed  over  us, 
and  we  were  people  who  went  astray.  O  LORD,  take  us  forth 
from  thisjire :  if  we  return  to  our  former  wickedness,  we  shall 
surely  be  unjust.  God  will  say  unto  them,  He  ye  driven 
away  with  ignominy  thereinto :  and  speak  not  unto  me  to 
deliver  you.  Verily  there  were  a  party  of  my  servants,  who 
said,  O  LORD,  we  believe  :  wherefore  forgive  us,  and  be  mer- 
ciful unto  us ;  for  thou  art  the  best  of  those  who  show  mercy. 
But  ye  received  them  with  scoffs,  so  that  they  suffered  you 
to  forget  my  admonition,  and  ye  laughed  them  to  scorn.  I 
have  this  day  rewarded  them,  for  that  they  suffered  the  inju- 
ries ye  offered  them  with  patience :  verily  they  enjoy  great 
felicity.  God  will  say,  What  number  of  years  have  ye  con- 
tinued on  earth 9  They  will  answer,  We  have  continued 
there  a  day,  or  part  of  a  day  :  but  ask  those  who  keep  account. 
God  will  say.  Ye  have  tarried  but  a  Vkiiile,  if  ye  knew  it. 
Did  ye  think  that  we  had  created  yor:  in  sport,  and  that  ye 
•hould  not  be  brought  again  before  uc  ?  Wherefore  let  GOD 
be  exalted,  the  King,  the  Truth  :  There  is  no  GOD  besides 
him,  the  LORD  of  tho  honorable  t'urone.  Whoever  together 
with  the  true  Goi>  shall  invoke  another  god,  concerning  whom 
he  hath  no  demonstrative  proof  shall  surely  be  brought  to  au 
account  for  th*  aaine  before  his  LORD.  Verily  the  infideii 
•hall  not  prosper.  Say,  0  LORD,  pardon,  and  show  mercy ; 
for  thou  art  the  beet  TO  those  who  show  mercy. 


282  Ai   KORA.N. 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 

DTTITLBD,  LIGHT;  REVEALED  AT  MEDINA. 

IK  THB  NAMK  Of  THE  MOST  MERCIFUL  OOD. 

THIS  Sura  have  we  sent  down  from  heaven  ;  and  !iavt 
ratified  the  same  ;  and  we  have  revealed  evident  signs,  tha* 
ye  may  be  warned.  The  whore,  and  the  whoremonger,  shall 
ye  scourge  with  a  hundred  stripes.  And  let  not  compassion 
towards  them  prevent  you  from  executing  the  judgment  of 
GOD  ;  if  ye  believe  in  GOD  and  the  last  day  :  and  let  some 
of  the  true  believers  be  witnesses  of  their  punishment  The 
whoremonger  shall  not  marry  any  other  than  a  harlot,  or  an 
idolatress.  And  a  harlot  shall  no  man  take  in  marriage,  ex- 
cept a  whoremonger,  or  an  idolater.  And  this  kind  of  mar- 
riage is  forbidden  the  true  believers.  But  at  to  those  who 
accuse  women  of  reputation  of  whoredom,  and  produce  not 
four  witnesses  of  the  fact,  scourge  them  with  fourscore  stripes, 
and  receive  not  their  testimony  forever ;  for  such  are  infa- 
aaous  prevaricators;  excepting  those  who  shall  afterwards 
r:pent,  and  amend ;  for  unto  such  will  GOD  be  gracious  and 
merciful.  They  who  shall  accuse  their  wives  of  adultery 
and  shall  have  no  witnesses  thereof,  besides  themselves  ;  the 
testimony  which  shall  be  required  of  one  of  them  shall  be,  that 
he  swear  four  times  by  GOD  that  he  speaketh  the  truth :  and 
the  fifth  time  that  he  imprecate  the  curse  of  GOD  on  him  if 
he  be  a  liar.  And  it  shall  avert  the  punishment  from  the 
wife,  if  she  swear  four  times  by  GOD  that  he  is  a  liar ;  and 
if  the  fifth  time  she  imprecate  the  wrath  of  GOD  on  her,  if  ho 
speaketh  the  truth.  If  it  were  not  for  the  indulgence  of  GOD 
towards  you,  and  his  mercy,  and  that  GOD  is  easy  to  be  rec 
onciled,  and  wise,  he  would  immediately  discover  your  crimes. 
As  to  the  party  among  you  who  have  published  the  falsehood 
concerning  Ayesha,  think  it  not  to  be  an  evil  unto  you :  on 
the  contrary,  it  is  better  for  you.1  Every  man  of  them  shall 
be  punished  according  to  the  injustice  of  which  he  hath  been 
guilty  ;  nnd  he  among  them  who  hath  undertaken  to  aggra- 
vate the  ?ame  shall  suffer  a  grievous  punishment.  Did  not 
the  faithful  men,  and  the  faithful  women,  when  ye  heard  tliis, 


AL   KORAN. 

judge  in  their  own  minds  for  the  best ;  and  say,  This  is  a 
manifest  falsehood?  Have  they  produced  four  witnesses 
thereof?  wherefore  since  they  have  not  produced  the  wit- 
nesses, they  are  surely  liars  in  the  sight  of  GOD.  Had  it 
not  been  for  the  indulgence  of  GOD  towards  you,  and  his 
mercy,  in  this  world  and  in  that  which  is  to  come,  verily  a 
grievous  punishment  had  been  inflicted  on  you,  for  the  cal- 
umny which  ye  have  spread :  when  ye  published  that  with 
your  tongues,  and  spoke  that  with  your  mouths,  of  which  ye 
had  no  knowledge ;  and  esteemed  it  to  be  light,  whereas  it 
was  a  matter  of  importance  in  the  sight  of  GOD.  When  ye 
heard  it,  did  ye  say,  It  belongeth  not  unto  us,  that  we  should 
talk  of  this  matter :  GOD  forbid !  this  is  a  grievous  calumny. 
GOD  warneth  you,  that  ye  return  not  to  the  like  crime  for- 
ever ;  if  ye  be  true  believers.  And  GOD  declareth  unto  you 
his  signs ;  for  GOD  it  knowing  and  wise.  Verily  they  who 
love  that  scandal  be  published  of  those  who  believe,  shall 
receive  a  severe  punishment  both  in  this  world  and  in  the 
next.  GOD  knoweth,  but  ye  know  not.  Had  it  not  been 
for  the  indulgence  of  GOD  towards  you  and  his  mercy,  and 
that  GOD  i$  gracious  and  merciful,  ye  had  felt  his  vengeance. 
O  true  believers,  follow  not  the  steps  of  the  devil :  for  whoso- 
ever shall  follow  the  steps  of  the  devil,  he  will  command 
them  filthy  crimes,  and  that  which  is  unlawful.  If  it  were 
not  for  the  indulgence  of  GOD,  and  his  mercy  towards  you, 
there  had  not  been  so  much  as  one  of  you  cleansed  from  hit 
guilt  forever :  but  GOD  cleanseth  whom  he  pleaseth ;  for 
GOD  both  heareth  and  knoweth.  Let  not  those  among  you, 
who  possess  abundance  of  wealth  and  have  ability,  swear  that 
they  will  not  give  unto  their  kindred,  and  the  poor,  and  those 
who  have  fled  their  country  for  the  sake  of  GOD'S  true 
religion :  but  let  them  forgive,  and  act  with  benevolence 
towards  them.  Do  ye  not  desire  that  GOD  should  pardon 
you  ?  And  GOD  is  gracious  and  merciful.  Moreover  they 
who  falsely  accuse  modest  women,  who  behave  in  a  negli- 
gent manner,  and  are  true  believers,  shall  be  cursed  hi  this 
world,  and  in  the  world  to  come;  and  they  shall  suffer  a 
severe  punishment.  One  day  their  own  tongues  shall  bear 
witness  against  them,  and  their  hands,  and  their  feet,  COD 
lerning  that  which  they  have  done.  On  that  day  shall  GOD 
render  unto  them  their  just  due;  and  they  shall  know  that 
MOD  is  the  evident  truth.  'Hie  wicked  wonc-'n  should  bt 


AL  KORAN. 

joined  to  the  wicked  men,  and  the  wicked  men  to  the  wicked 
women ;  but  the  good  women  should  be  married  to  the  good 
men,  and  the  good  men  to  the  good  women.  These  shall  be 
cleared  from  the  calumnies  which  slanderers  speak  of  them  ; 
hey  shall  obtain  pardon,  and  an  honorable  provision.  C 
true  believers,  enter  not  any  houses,  besides  your  own  houses, 
until  ye  have  asked  leave,  and  have  saluted  the  family  thereof: 
this  M  better  for  you  ;  peradventure  ye  will  be  admonished. 
And  if  ye  shall  find  no  person  in  the  houses,  yet  do  not  enter 
them,  until  leave  be  granted  you :  and  if  it  be  said  unto  you, 
Return  back,  do  ye  return  back.  This  will  be  more  decent 
for  you  :  and  GOD  knoweth  that  which  ye  do.  It  shall  be 
no  crime  in  you,  that  ye  enter  uninhabited  houses,  wherein 
ye  may  meet  with  a  convenience.  GOD  knoweth  that  which 
ye  discover,  and  that  which  ye  conceal.  Speak  unto  the 
true  believers,  that  they  restrain  their  eyes,  and  keep  them- 
selves from  immodest  actions :  this  will  be  more  pure  for 
them ;  for  GOD  is  well  acquainted  with  that  which  they  do 
And  speak  unto  the  believing  women,  that  they  restrain  theii 
eyes,  and  preserve  their  modesty,  and  discover  not  their 
ornaments,  except  what  necessarily  appeareth  thereof;  and 
let  them  throw  their  veils  over  their  bosoms,  and  not  show 
their  ornaments,  unless  to  their  husbands,  or  their  fathers,  or 
their  husbands'  fathers,  or  their  sons,  or  their  husbands'  sons. 
or  their  brothers,  or  their  brothers'  sons,  or  their  sisters'  sons, 
or  their  women,  or  the  captives  which  their  right  hands  shall 
possess,  or  unto  such  men  as  attend  them,  and  have  no  need 
of  women,  or  unto  children,  who  distinguish  not  the  naked- 
ness of  women.  And  let  them  not  make  a  noise  with  their 
feet,  that  their  ornaments  which  they  hide  may  thereby  be 
discovered.  And  be  ye  all  turned  unto  GOD,  O  true  be- 
lievers, that  ye  may  be  happy.  Marry  those  who  are  single 
among  you,  and  such  as  are  honest  of  your  men-servants  and 
your  maid-servants :  if  they  be  poor,  GOD  will  enrich  them 
of  his  abundance  ;  for  GOD  is  bounteous  and  wise.  And 
let  those  who  find  not  a  match,  keep  themselves  from  forni- 
cation, until  GOD  shall  enrich  them  of  his  abundance.  And 
unto  such  of  your  slaves  as  desire  a  written  instrument  allow- 
ing them  to  redeem  themselves  on  paying  a  certain  sum,  write 
one,  if  ye  know  good  in  them ;  and  give  them  of  the  riche' 
of  GOD,  which  IK-  hath  given  you.  And  compel  not  yoi-r 
maid-servants  to  prostitute  themselves,  if  they  be  willing  to 


AL  KORAN.  285 

live  chastely  ;  that  ye  may  seek  the  casual  advantage  of  thia 
present  life ;  but  whoever  shall  compel  them  thereto,  verily 
GOD  will  be  gracious  and  merciful  unto  such  women  after 
their  compulsion.  And  now  have  we  revealed  unto  you 
evident  signs,  and  a  history  like  unto  some  of  the  histories  of 
those  who  have  gone  before  you,  and  an  admonition  unto  tho 
pious.  GOD  is  the  light  of  heaven  and  earth :  the  similitude 
of  his  light  is  as  a  niche  in  a  wall,  wherein  a  lamp  is  placed, 
and  the  lamp  enclosed  in  a  case  of  glass  ;  the  glass  appears 
as  it  were  a  shining  star.  It  is  lighted  with  the  oil  of  a 
blessed  tree,  an  olive  neither  of  the  east,  nor  of  the  west :  it 
wanteth  little  but  that  the  oil  thereof  would  give  light,  al- 
though no  fire  touched  it.  This  is  light  added  unto  light. 
GOD  will  direct  unto  his  light  whom  he  pleaseth.  GOD 
propoundeth  parables  unto  men ;  for  GOD  knoweth  all  things. 
In  the  houses  which  GOD  hath  permitted  to  be  raised,  and 
that  his  name  be  commemorated  therein !  men  celebrate  his 
praise  in  the  same,  morning  and  evening,  whom  neither  mer- 
chandising nor  selling  diverteth  from  the  remembering  of 
GOD,  and  the  observance  of  prayer,  and  the  giving  of  alms  ; 
fearing  the  day  whereon  men's  hearts  and  eyes  shall  be 
troubled ;  that  GOD  may  recompense  them  according  to  the 
utmost  merit  of  what  they  shall  have  wrought,  and  may  add 
unto  them  of  his  abundance  a  more  excellent  reward;  for 
GOD  bestoweth  on  whom  he  pleaseth  without  measure.  But 
at  to  the  unbelievers,  their  works  are  like  the  vapor  in  a 
plain,  which  the  thirsty  traveller  thinketh  to  be  water,  until, 
when  he  cometh  thereto,  he  findeth  it  to  be  nothing ;  but  he 
findeth  GOD  with  him,  and  he  will  fully  pay  him  his  account ; 
and  GOD  is  swift  in  taking  an  account ;  or,  as  the  darkness 
in  a  deep  sea,  covered  by  waves  riding  on  waves,  above 
which  are  clouds,  being  additions  of  darkness  one  over  the 
other ;  when  one  stretcheth  forth  his  hand,  he  is  far  from 
seeing  it.  And  unto  whomsoever  GOD  shall  not  grant  his 
light,  he  shall  enjoy  no  light  at  all.  Dost  thou  not  perceive 
that  all  creatures  both  in  heaven  and  earth  praise  GOD  :  and 
the  birds  also,  extending  their  wings  ?  Every  one  knoweth 
his  prayer,  and  his  praise :  and  GOD  knoweth  that  which 
they  do.  Unto  GOD  belongeth  the  kingdom  of  heaven  and 
earth ;  and  unto  GOD  shall  be  the  return  at  the  last  day. 
Dost  thou  not  see  that  GOD  gently  driveth  forward  the 
clouds,  and  gathereth  them  together,  and  then  layeth  them  on 


J}86  AL  KORAN. 

Leaps?  Thou  also  seest  the  rain,  which  falleth  from  th« 
midst  thereof;  and  God  sendeth  down  from  heaven  as  it  wcr« 
mountains,  wherein  there  is  hail ;  he  striketh  therewith  whom 
he  pleaseth,  and  turneth  the  same  away  from  whom  he 
pleaseth :  the  brightness  of  his  lightning  wanteth  but  little  of 
taking  away  the  sight.  GOD  shifteth  the  night,  and  the  day  : 
verily  herein  is  an  instruction  unto  those  who  have  sight. 
And  GOD  hath  created  every  animal  of  water ;  one  of  them 
goeth  on  his  belly,  and  another  of  them  walketh  upon  two 
feet,  and  another  of  them  walketh  upon  four  feet:  GOD  cre- 
ateth  that  which  he  pleaseth  ;  for  GOD  is  almighty.  Now 
have  we  sent  down  evident  signs :  and  GOD  directeth  whom 
he  pleaseth  into  the  right  way.  The  hypocrites  say,  We 
believe  in  GOD,  and  on  his  apostle ;  and  we  obey  them :  yet 
a  part  of  them  turneth  back,  after  this ;  but  these  are  not 
really  believers.  And  when  they  are  summoned  before  GOD 
and  his  apostle,  that  he  may  judge  between  them ;  behold,  a 
part  of  them  retire :  but  if  the  right  had  been  on  their  side, 
they  would  have  come  and  submitted  themselves  unto  him. 
Is  there  an  infirmity  in  their  hearts  ?  Do  they  doubt  ?  Or 
do  they  fear  lest  GOD  and  his  apostle  act  unjustly  towards 
them  ?  But  themselves  are  the  unjust  doers.  The  saying 
of  the  true  believers,  when  they  are  summoned  before  GOD 
and  his  apostle,  that  he  may  judge  between  them,  is  no  other 
than  that  they  say,  We  have  heard,  and  do  obey :  and  these 
are  they  who  shall  prosper.  Whoever  shall  obey  GOD  and 
his  apostle,  and  shall  fear  GOD,  and  shall  be  devout  towards 
him  ;  these  shall  enjoy  great  felicity.  They  swear  by  GOD, 
with  a  most  solemn  oath,  that  if  thou  commandest  them,  they 
will  go  forth  from  their  houses  and  possessions.  Say,  Swear 
not  to  a  falsehood:  obedience  is  more  requisite  :  and  GOD  is 
well  acquainted  with  that  which  ye  do.  Say,  Obey  GOD, 
and  obey  the  apostle :  but  if  ye  turn  back,  verily  it  is  ex- 
pected of  him  that  he  perform  his  duty,  and  of  you  that  ye 
perform  your  duty  ;  and  if  ye  obey  him,  ye  shall  be  directed ; 
but  the  duty  of  our  apostle  is  only  public  preaching.  GOD 
promiseth  unto  such  of  you  as  believe,  and  do  good  works, 
that  he  will  cause  them  to  succeed  the  unbelievers  in  the 
earth,  as  he  caused  those  who  were  before  you  to  succeed  the 
infidels  of  their  time  ;  and  that  he  will  establish  for  th^m 
their  religion  which  pleaseth  them,  and  will  change  th*ir 
fear  into  security.  They  shall  worship  me  ;  and  shall  not 


AL  KORAD.  287 

associate  any  other  with  me.  But  whoever  shall  disbelieva 
after  this,  they  will  be  the  wicked  doers.  Observe  prayer, 
and  give  alms,  and  obey  the  apostle ;  that  ye  may  obtain 
mercy.  Think  not  that  the  unbelievers  shall  frustrate  the 
designs  of  God  on  earth  :  and  their  abode  hereafter  shall  be 
hell  fire ;  a  miserable  journey  shall  it  be  thither  !  O  true  be- 
lievers, let  your  slaves  and  those  among  you  who  shall  not 
have  attained  the  age  of  puberty,  ask  leave  of  you,  before 
they  come  into  your  presence,  three  times  in  the  day  ;  namely, 
before  the  morning  prayer,  and  when  ye  lay  aside  your  gar- 
ments at  noon,  and  after  the  evening  prayer.  These  are  the 
three  times  for  you  to  be  private :  it  shall  be  no  crime  in 
you,  or  in  them,  if  they  go  in  to  you  without  asking  permis- 
tion  after  these  times,  while  ye  are  in  frequent  attendance, 
the  one  of  you  on  the  other.  Thus  GOD  declareth  his  signs 
unto  you  ;  for  GOD  is  knowing  and  wise.  And  when  youi 
children  attain  the  age  of  puberty,  let  them  ask  leave  to  come 
into  your  presence  at  all  times,  in  the  same  manner  as  those 
who  have  attained  that  age  before  them,  ask  leave.  Thus 
GOD  declareth  his  signs  unto  you  ;  and  GOD  is  knowing 
and  wise.  As  to  such  women  as  are  past  child-bearing,  who 
hope  not  to  marry  again,  because  of  their  advanced  age  ;  it 
shall  be  no  crime  in  them,  if  they  lay  aside  their  outer  gar- 
ments, not  showing  their  ornaments  ;  but  if  they  abstainy/w» 
this,  it  witt  be  better  for  them.  GOD  both  heareth  and  know- 
eth.  It  shall  be  no  crime  in  the  blind,  nor  shall  it  be  any 
crime  in  the  lame,  neither  shall  it  be  any  crime  in  the  sick, 
or  in  yourselves,  that  ye  eat  in  your  houses,  or  in  the  houses 
of  your  fathers,  or  the  houses  of  your  mothers,  or  in  the 
aouses  of  your  brothers,  or  the  houses  of  your  sisters,  or  the 
bouses  of  your  uncles  on  the  father's  side,  or  the  houses  of 
your  aunts  on  the  father's  side,  or  the  houses  of  your  uncles 
on  the  mother's  side,  the  houses  of  your  aunts  on  the  mother's 
side,  or  in  those  houses  the  keys  whereof  ye  have  in  your 
possession,  or  in  the  house  of  your  friend.  It  shall  not  be  any 
crime  in  you  whether  ye  eat  together,  or  separately.  And 
when  ye  enter  any  houses,  salute  one  another  on  the  part  of 
GOD,  with  a  blessed  and  a  welcome  salutation.  Thus  GOD 
declareth  his  signs  unto  you,  that  ye  may  understand.  Verily 
they  only  are  true  believers,  who  believe  in  GOD  and  his 
apostle,  and  when  they  are  assembled  with  him  on  any  affair, 
depart  not,  until  they  have  obtained  leave  of  him.  Verily 


288  AL  KORAN. 

they  who  ask  leave  of  thee  are  those  who  believe  in  GOD 
and  hi8  apostle.  When  therefore  they  a^k  leave  of  thee  to 
depart,  on  account  of  any  business  of  their  own,  grant  ieave 
unto  such  of  them  as  Ihou  shalt  think  fit,  and  ask  pardoc 
for  them  of  GOD  ;  for  GOD  is  gracious  and  merciful.  Let 
not  the  calling  of  the  apostle  be  esteemed  among  you,  as 
your  calling  the  one  to  the  other.  GOD  knoweth  such  of 
you  as  privately  withdraw  themselves  from  the  assembly, 
taking  shelter  behind  one  another.  But  let  those  who  with- 
stand his  command  take  heed,  lest  some  calamity  befall  them 
in  this  world,  or  a  grievous  punishment  be  inflicted  on  them 
in  the  life  to  come.  Doth  not  whatever  is  in  heaven  and  on 
earth  belong  unto  GOD  ?  He  well  knoweth  what  ye  are 
about :  and  on  a  certain  day  they  shall  be  assembled  before 
him ;  and  he  shall  declare  unto  them  that  which  they  have 
done  ;  for  GOD  knoweth  all  things. 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

IKTITLKD,  AL    FORKAN;    REVEALED   AT   MECCA. 

IH    THE    KXME    OF    THE    MOST    MERCIFUL    GOD. 

BLESSED  be  he  who  hath  revealed  the  Forkan  unto  hia 
servant,  that  he  may  be  a  preacher  to  all  creatures :  unto 
whom  belongeth  the  kingdom  of  heaven  and  of  earth :  who 
hath  begotten  no  issue  ;  and  hath  no  partner  in  his  kingdom  : 
who  hath  created  all  things,  and  disposed  the  same  according 
to  his  determinate  will.  Yet  have  they  taken  other  gods  be- 
sides him ;  which  have  created  nothing,  but  are  themselves 
created :  and  are  able  neither  to  avert  evil  from,  nor  to  pro- 
cure good  unto  themselves;  and  have  not  the  power  of  death, 
or  of  life^or  of  raising  the  dead.  And  the  unbelievers  say, 
This  Koran  is  no  other  than  a  forgery  which  he  hath  con- 
trived ;  and  other  people  have  assisted  him  therein :  but 
they  utter  an  unjust  thing,  and  a  falsehood.  They  also  say, 
These  are  fables  of  the  ancients,  which  he  hath  caused  io  to 
written  down  ;  and  they  are  dictated  unto  him  morning  and 


AT.   KORAN.  281> 

evening.  Say,  He  hath  revealed  it,  who  knoweth  the  secret* 
in  heaven  and  earth:  verily  he  is  gracious  and  merciful 
And  they  say,  What  kind  of  apostle  is  this  ?  He  eateth 
food,  and  walketh  in  the  streets,  as  we  do:  unless  an  angel 
be  sent  down  unto  him,  and  become  a  fellow  preacher  with 
him ;  or  unless  a  treasure  be  cast  down  unto  him ;  or  he  have 
a  garden,  of  the  fruit  whereof  he  may  eat ;  we  will  not  be- 
lieve. The  ungodly  also  say,  Ye  follow  no  other  than  a  man 
who  is  distracted.  Behold  what  they  liken  thee  unto.  But 
thej  are  deceived ;  neither  can  they  find  a  just  occasion  to 
repr  jach  thee.  Blessed  be  he,  who,  if  he  pleaseth,  will  make 
for  thee  a  better  provision  than  this  which  they  speak  of; 
namely,  gardens  through  which  rivers  flow :  and  he  will  pro- 
vide thee  palaces.  But  they  reject  the  belief  of  the  hour  of 
judgment,  as  a  falsehood :  and  we  have  prepared  for  him, 
who  shall  reject  the  belief  of  that  hour,  burning  fire ;  when 
it  shall  see  them  from  a  distant  place,  they  shall  hear  it 
furiously  raging  and  roaring.  And  when  they  shall  be  cast, 
bound  together,  into  a  strait  place  thereof,  they  shall  there 
call  for  death  ;  but  it  shall  be  answered  them,  Call  not  thia 
day  for  one  death,  but  call  for  many  deaths.  Say,  Is  thia 
better,  or  a  garden  of  eternal  duration,  which  is  promised 
unto  the  pious  ?  It  shall  be  given  unto  them  for  a  reward, 
and  a  retreat :  therein  shall  they  have  whatever  they  please, 
continuing  in  the  same  forever.  This  is  a  promise  to  be 
demanded  at  the  hands  of  thy  LOED.  On  a  certain  day 
he  shall  assemble  them,  and  whatever  they  worship,  besides 
GOD  ;  and  shall  say  unto  the  worshipped,  Did  ye  seduce 
these  my  servants ;  or  did  they  wander  of  themselves  from 
the  right  way  ?  They  shall  answer,  GOD  forbid !  It  was 
not  fitting  for  us,  that  we  should  take  any  protectors  besides 
thee :  but  thou  didst  permit  them  and  their  fathers  to  enjoy 
abundance ;  so  that  they  forgot  thy  admonition,  and  became 
lost  people.  And  God  shall  say  unto  their  worshippers, 
Now  have  these  convinced  you  of  falsehood,  in  that  which 
ye  say:  they  can  neither  avert  your  punishment,  nor  give 
you  any  assistance.  And  whoever  of  you  shall  be  guilty  of 
injustice,  him  will  we  cause  to  taste  a  grievous  torment. 
We  have  sent  no  messengers  before  thee,  but  they  ate  food, 
and  walked  through  the  streets :  and  we  make  some  of  you 
an  occasion  of  trial  unto  others.  Will  ye  persevere  with 
patience?  since  the  LORD  regardeth  your  perseverance. 
19 


nO  AL  KORAN. 

They  who  hope  not  to  meet  us  at.  the  resurrection  say,  L'r. 
less  the  angels  be  sent  down  unto  us,  or  we  see  our  Lour- 
himself,  we  will  not  believe.  Verily  they  behave  them 
selves  arrogantly;  and  have  transgressed  with  an  enor- 
mous transgression.  The  day  whereon  they  shall  see  the 
angels,  there  shall  be  no  glad  tidings  on  that  day  for  the 
wicked ;  and  they  shall  say,  Be  this  removed  far  from  us  ? 
and  we  will  come  unto  the  work  which  they  shall  have 
wrought,  and  we  will  make  it  as  dust  scattered  abroad 
On  that  day  shall  they  who  are  destined  to  paradise  be 
more  happy  in  an  abode,  and  have  a  preferable  place  of 
repose  at  noon.  On  that  day  the  heaven  shall  be  cloven 
in  sunder  by  the  clouds,  and  the  angels  shall  be  sent  down, 
descending  visibly  therein.  On  that  day  the  kingdom  shall 
of  right  belong  wholly  unto  the  Merciful ;  and  that  day  shall 
be  grievous  for  the  unbelievers.  On  that  day  the  unjust 
person  shall  bite  his  hand /or  anguish  and  despair,  and  shall 
say,  Oh  that  I  had  taken  the  way  of  truth  with  the  apostle ! 
Alas  for  me !  Oh  that  I  had  not  taken  such  a  one  for  my 
friend  !  He  seduced  me  from  the  admonition  of  God,  after 
it  had  come  unto  me :  for  the  devil  is  the  betrayer  of  man. 
And  the  apostle  shall  say,  O  LORD,  verily  my  people  es- 
teemed this  Koran  to  be  &  vain  composition.  In  like  manner 
did  we  ordain  unto  every  prophet  an  enemy  from  among  the 
wicked :  but  thy  LORD  is  a  sufficient  director  and  defender. 
The  unbelievers  say,  Unless  the  Koran  be  sent  down  unto 
him  entire  at  once,  we  will  not  believe.  But  in  this  manner 
have  we  revealed  it,  that  we  might  confirm  thy  heart  thereby, 
and  we  have  dictated  it  gradually,  by  distinct  parcels.  They 
shall  not  come  unto  thee  with  any  strange  question ;  but  we 
will  bring  thee  the  truth  in  answer,  and  a  most  excellent  in- 
terpretation. They  who  shall  be  dragged  on  their  faces  into 
hell  shall  be  in  the  worst  condition,  and  shall  stray  most 
widely  from  the  way  of  salvation.  We  heretofore  deliver- 
ed unto  Moses  the  book  of  the  law ;  and  we  appointed  him 
Aaron  his  brother  for  a  counsellor.  And  we  said  unto  them, 
Go  ye  to.  the  people  who  charge  our  signs  with  falsehood 
And  we  destroyed  them  with  a  signal  destruction.  Art  re- 
member the  people  of  Noah,  when  they  accused  our  apostles 
M  imposture  :  we  drowned  them,  and  made  them  a  sign 
unto  mankind.  And  we  have  prepared  for  the  unjust  a 
painful  torment.  Remember  also  Ad,  an<J  Thamud,  and 


AL  KORAN.  *9] 

Biose  who  dwelt  at  al  Rass;  and  many  other  generations 
within  this  period.1  Unto  each  of  them  did  we  propound 
examples  for  their  admonition ;  and  each  of  them  did  we 
destroy  with  an  utter  destruction.  The  Koreish  have  passed 
frequently  near  the  city  which  was  rained, on  by  a  fatal  rain; 
have  they  not  seen  where  it  once  stood  ?  Yet  have  they  not 
dreaded  the  resurrection.  When  they  see  thee,  they  will  re- 
ceive thee  only  with  scoffing,  saying,  Is  this  he  whom  GOD 
hath  sent  as  his  apostle  ?  Verily  he  had  almost  drawn  us 
aside  from  the  worship  of  our  gods,  if  we  had  not  firmly  per- 
severed in  our  devotion  towards  them.  But  they  shall  know 
hereafter,  when  they  shall  see  the  punishment  prepared  for 
them,  who  hath  strayed  more  widely  from  the  right  path. 
What  thinkest  thou  ?  He  who  taketh  his  lust  for  his  god ; 
canst  thou  be  his  guardian  ?  Dost  thou  imagine  that  the 
greater  part  of  them  hear,  or  understand  ?  They  are  no 
other  than  like  the  brute  cattle ;  yea,  they  stray  more  widely 
from  the  true  path.  Dost  thou  not  consider  the  works  of  thy 
LORD,  how  he  stretcheth  forth  the  shadow  before  tunrise  ? 
If  he  had  pleased,  he  would  have  made  it  immovable  forever. 
Then  we  cause  the  sun  to  rise,  and  to  show  the  same  ;  and 
afterwards  we  contract  it  by  an  easy  and  gradual  contraction. 
It  is  he  who  hath  ordained  the  night  to  cover  you  as  a  gar- 
ment ;  and  sleep  to  give  you  rest ;  and  hath  ordained  the  day 
for  waking.  It  is  he  who  sendeth  the  winds,  driving  abroad 
the  pregnant  clouds,  as  the  forerunners  of  his  mercy :  and  we 
send  down  pure  water  from  heaven,  that  we  may  thereby  re- 
vive a  dead  country,  and  give  to  drjnk  thereof  unto  what  we 
have  created,  both  of  cattle  and  men,  in  great  numbers,  and 
we  distribute  the  same  among  them  at  various  times,  that  they 
may  consider :  but  the  greater  part  of  men  refuse  to  consider^ 
only  out  of  ingratitude.  If  we  had  pleased,  we  had  sent  a 
preacher  unto  every  city :  wherefore,  do  not  thou  obey  the 
unbelievers ;  but  oppose  them  herewith,  with  a  strong  oppo- 
sition. It  is  he  who  hath  let  loose  the  two  seas ;  this  fresh 
and  sweet,  and  that  salt  and  bitter ;  and  hath  placed  between 
them  a  bar,  and  a  bound  which  cannot  be  passed.  It  is  ht 
who  hath  created  man  of  water,  and  hath  made  him  to  kar  the 
double  relation  of  consanguinity  and  affinity ;  for  thy  LORD 
<s  powerful.  They  worship,  besides  GOD,  that  which  can 
neither  profit  them  nor  hurt  them  :  and  the  unbeliever  is  an 
assistant  of  the  devil  against  his  LORD.  We  have  sent  the 


192  AL  KORAN. 

to  b«  no  other  than  a  bearer  of  good  tidings,  and  a  denouncei 
of  threats.  Say,  I  ask  not  of  you  any  reward  for  this  my 
^reaching  ;  besides  the  conversion  of  him  who  shall  desire  to 
take  the  way  unto  his  LORD.  And  do  thou  trust  in  him  who 
liveth,  and  dieth  not ;  and  celebrate  his  praise :  (he  is  suffi- 
ciently acquainted  with  the  faults  of  his  servants)  :  who  hath 
created  the  heavens  and  the  earth,  and  whatever  is  between 
them,  in  six  days ;  and  then  ascended  his  throne  :  the  Mer- 
ciful. Ask  now  the  knowing  concerning  him.  When  it  is 
said  unto  the  unbelievers,  Adore  the  Merciful;  they  reply, 
And  who  is  the  Merciful  ?  Shall  we  adore  that  which  thou 
commandest  us  ?  And  this  precept  causeth  them  to  fly  the 
faster  from  the  faith.  Blessed  be  he  who  hath  placed  the 
twelve  signs  in  the  heavens ;  and  hath  placed  therein  a  lamp 
by  day,  and  the  moon  which  shineth  by  night  •  It  is  he  who 
hath  ordained  the  night  and  the  day  to  succeed  each  other, 
for  the  observation  of  him  who  will  consider,  or  desireth  to 
show  his  gratitude.  The  servants  of  the  Merciful  are  those 
who  walk  meekly  on  the  earth,  and  when  the  ignorant  speak 
unto  them,  answer,  Peace :  and  who  pass  the  night  adoring 
their  LORD,  and  standing  up  to  pray  unto  him :  and  who 
say,  0  LORD,  avert  from  us  the  torment  of  bell,  for  the  tor- 
ment thereof  is  perpetual ;  verily  the  same  is  a  miserable 
abode  and  a  vrretched  station :  and  who,  when  they  bestow, 
are  neither  profuse  nor  niggardly;  but  observe  a  just  medium 
between  these ;  and  who  invoke  not  another  god  together 
with  the  true  GOD  ;  neither  slay  the  soul  which  GOD  hath 
forbidden  to  be  slain,  unless  for  a  just  causu :  and  who  are 
not  guilty  of  fornication.  But  he  who  shall  do  this  shall 
meet  the  reward  of  his  wickedness :  his  punishment  shall  be 
doubled  unto  him  on  the  day  of  resurrection  ;  and  he  shall 
remain  therein,  covered  with  ignominy,  forever:  except  him 
who  shall  repent  and  believe,  and  shall  work  a  righteous 
work ;  unto  them  will  GOD  change  their  former  evils  into 
good ;  for  GOD  is  ready  to  forgive,  and  merciful.  And  who- 
ever repenteth,  and  doth  that  which  is  right ;  verily  he  turn- 
eth  unto  GOD  with  an  acceptable  conversion.  And  they  who 
do  not  bear  false  witness  ;  and  when  they  pass  by  vain  dis- 
course, pass  by  the  same  with  decency ;  and  who,  when  they 
are  admonished  by  the  signs  of  their  LORD,  fall  pot  down  «* 
if  they  were  deaf  and  blind,  but  stand  up  and  are  attentive 
thereto :  and  who  say,  O  LORD,  grant  us  of  our  wives  and 


AL  KORAN.  293 

our  offspring  such  as  may  be  the  satisfaction  of  our  eyes  ; 
and  make  us  patterns  unto  those  who  fear  thee.  These  shall 
be  rewarded  with  the  highest  apartments  in  paradise,  because 
they  have  persevered  with  constancy ;  and  they  shall  meet 
therein  with  greeting  and  salutation ;  they  shall  remain  in 
the  same  forever :  it  shall  be  an  excellent  abode,  and  a  de- 
lightful station.  Say,  My  LORD  is  not  solicitous  on  your 
account,  if  ye  do  not  invoke  him :  ye  have  already  charged 
his  apostle  with  imposture ;  but  hereafter  fhall  there  be  a 
lasting  punishment  inflicted  on  you. 


CHAPTER  XXVL 

UrriTLJCD,    THE    POETS  ;    RRVEALED     AT     MECCA. 
IM    THK   JTAMB    OV    THE    MOST    MKECIFUL   OOP. 

T.  S.  M.  THESE  are  the  signs  of  the  perspicuous  book. 
Peradventure  thou  afflictest  thyself  unto  death,  lest  the 
Meccans  become  not  believers.  If  we  pleased,  we  could 
Bend  down  unto  them  a  convincing  sign  from  heaven,  unto 
which  their  necks  would  humbly  submit.  But  there  cometh 
unto  them  no  admonition  from  the  Merciful,  being  newly 
revealed  as  occasions  require,  but  they  turn  aside  from  the 
same ;  and  they  have  charged  it  with  falsehood :  but  a  mes- 
sage shall  come  unto  them,  which  they  shall  not  laugh  to 
ecorn.  Do  they  not  behold  the  earth,  how  many  vegetable* 
we  cause  to  spring  up  therein,  of  every  noble  species  ?  Verily 
herein  is  a  sign:  but  the  greater  part  of  them  do  not  be- 
lieve. Verily  thy  LORD  is  the  mighty,  the  merciful  God. 
Remember  when  thy  LORD  called  Moses,  saying,  Go  to  the 
anjust  people,  the  people  of  Pharaoh ;  will  they  not  dread 
me  ?  Moses  answered,  O  LORD,  verily  I  fear  lest  they  ac- 
cuse me  of  falsehood,  and  lest  my  breast  become  straitened, 
and  my  tongue  be-  not  ready  in  speaking  :  send  therefore 
unto  Aaron,  to  be  my  assistant.  Also  they  have  a  crime 
<o  object  against  me  ;  and  I  fear  they  will  put  me  to  death. 
God  said,  They  shall  by  no  means  put  thee  to  death :  where- 


294  AL  KORAN. 

fore  go  ye  with  our  signs;  for  we  witt  be  with  you,  and 
will  hear  what  passes  between  you  and  them.  Go  ye  there- 
fore unto  Pharaoh,  and  say,  Verily  we  are  the  apostle  of 
the  LORD  of  all  creatures :  send  away  with  us  the  children 
of  Israel.  And  when  they  had  delivered  their  message,  Pha 
raoh  answered,  Have  we  not  brought  thee  up,  among  us, 
when  a  child ;  and  hast  thou  not  dwelt  among  us  for  several 
years  of  thy  life  ?  Yet  hast  thou  done  thy  deed  which  thou 
hast  done,  and  thou  art  an  ungrateful  person.  Moses  re- 
plied, I  did  it  indeed,  and  J  was  one  of  those  who  erred 
wherefore  I  fled  from  you,  because  I  feared  you :  but  mj 
LORD  hath  bestowed  on  me  wisdom,  and  hath  appointed 
me  one  of  his  apostles.  And  this  is  the  favor  which  thou 
hast  bestowed  on  me,  that  thou  hast  enslaved  the  children 
of  Israel.  Pharaoh  said,  And  who  is  the  LORD  of  all  crea- 
tures ?  Moses  answered,  The  LORD  of  heaven  and  earth, 
and  whatever  is  between  them :  if  ye  are  men  of  sagacity. 
Pharaoh  said  unto  those  who  were  about  him,  Do  ye  not  hear  ? 
Moses  said,  Your  LORD,  and  the  LORD  of  your  forefathers. 
Pharaoh  said  unto  those  who  were  present.  Your  apostle,  who 
is  sent  unto  you,  is  certainly  distracted.  Moses  said,  The 
LORD  of  the  east,  and  of  the  west,  and  of  whatever  is  be- 
tween them  ;  if  ye  are  men  of  understanding.  Pharaoh  said 
unto  him,  Verily  if  thou  take  any  god  besides  me,  I  will 
make  thee  one  of  those  who  are  imprisoned.  Moses  an- 
swered, What,  although  I  come  unto  you  with  a  convincing 
miracle!  Pharaoh  replied,  Produce  it  therefore,  if  thou 
speakest  truth.  And  he  cast  down  his  rod,  and  behold,  it 
became  a  visible  serpent:  and  he  drew  forth  his  hand  out 
of  his  bosom  ;  and  behold,  it  appeared  white  unto  the  spec- 
tators. Pharaoh  said  unto  the  princes  who  were  about  him, 
Verily  this  man  is  a  skilful  magician :  he  seeketh  to  dis- 
possess you  of  your  land  by  his  sorcery  ;  what  therefore 
do  ye  direct  ?  They  answered,  Delay  him  and  his  brother 
by  good  words  for  a  time ;  and  send  through  the  cities  men 
to  assemble  and  bring  unto  thee  every  skilful  magician. 
So  the  magicians  were  assembled  at  an  appointed  time,  on 
a  solemn  day.  And  it  was  said  unto  the  people,  Are  ye 
assembled  together?  Perhaps  we  may  follow  the  magi- 
cians, if  they  do  get  the  victory.  And  when  the  magicians 
\\<-re  come,  they  said  unto  Pharaoh,  Shall  we  certainly  re- 
vive a  reward,  if  we  do  get  the  victory  ?  He  answered, 


AL  KORAN.  295 

Tea;  and  ye  shall  surely  be  of  those  who  approach  my 
.person.  Moses  said  unto  them,  Cast  down  what  ye  are 
about  to  cast  down.  Wherefore  they  cast  down  their  ropes 
and  their  rods,  and  said,  By  the  might  of  Pharaoh,  verily 
we  shall  be  the  conquerors.  And  Moses  cast  down  his  rod, 
and  behold,  it  swallowed  up  that  which  they  had  caused 
falsely  to  appear  changed  into  serpents.  Whereupon  the 
magicians  prostrated  themselves,  worshipping,  and  said,  We 
believe  in  the  LORD  of  all  creatures,  the  LORD  of  Moses 
and  of  Aaron.  Pharaoh  said  unto  them,  Have  ye  believed 
on  him,  before  I  have  given  you  permission  ?  Verily  he 
is  your  chief  who  hath  taught  you  magic  :  but  hereafter 
ye  shall  surely  know  my  power.  I  will  cut  off  your  hands 
and  your  feet,  on  the  opposite  sides,  and  I  will  crucify  you 
all.  They  answered,  It  will  be  no  harm  unto  us  ;  for  we 
shall  return  unto  our  LORD.  We  hope  that  our  LORD 
will  forgive  us  our  sins,  since  we  are  the  first  who  have 
believed.  And  we  spake  by  revelation  unto  Moses,  say- 
ing, March  forth  with  my  servants  by  night ;  for  ye  will 
be  pursued.  And  Pharaoh  sent  officers  through  the  cities 
to  assemble  forces,  saying,  Verily  these  are  a  small  com- 
pany :  and  they  are  enraged  against  us :  but  we  are  a  mul- 
titude well  provided.  So  we  caused  them  to  quit  their 
gardens,  and  fountains,  and  treasures,  and  fair  dwellings: 
thus  did  we  do;  and  we  made  the  children  of  Israel  to 
inherit  the  samft.  And  they  pursued  them  at  sunrise.  And 
when  the  two  armies  were  come  in  sight  of  each  other, 
the  companions  of  Moses  said,  We  shall  surely  be  over- 
taken. Moses  answered,  By  no  means  ;  for  my  LORD  it 
with  me,  who  will  surely  direct  me.  And  we  commanded 
Moses  by  revelation,  sayinq,  Smite  the  sea  with  thy  rod. 
And  when  he  had  smitten  it.  it  became  divided  into  twelve 
parts,  between  which  wert  a*  many  paihi,  and  every  part 
was  like  a  vast  mountain.  And  we  drew  thither  the  others ; 
and  we  delivered  Moses  and  all  those  who  were  with  him : 
then  we  drowned  the  others.  Verily  herein  was  a  sfgn ;  but 
the  greater  part  of  them  did  not  believe.  Verily  thy  Losf>  ia 
the  mighty  and  the  merciful.  And  r^h«arse  unto  them  *he 
•tory  of  Abraham :  when  he  said  untP  his  fatbe**,  and  bis 
people,  What  do  ye  worship  ?  They  answered,  We  wor- 
ship idols  ;  and  we  constantly  serve  them  nil  th*j  dav  IOQK- 
Abraham  said,  Do  they  hear  you,  when  v«.  iuvok«  them 


296  AL  KORAN. 

Or  do  they  either  profit  you,  or  hurt  you?  They  an- 
ewered,  But  we  found  our  fathers  do  the  same.  He  said, 
What  think  ye?  The  gods  which  ye  worship,  and  your 
forefathers  worshipped,  are  my  enemy:  except  only  the 
LORD  of  all  creatures,  who  hath  created  me,  and  directeth 
me ;  and  who  giveth  me  to  eat,  and  to  drink,  and  when  I 
am  sick,  healeth  me;  and  who  will  cause  me  to  die,  and 
will  afterwards  restore  me  to  life  ;  and  who,  I  hope,  will 
forgive  my  sins  on  the  day  of  judgment.  0  LORD,  grant 
me  wisdom  ;  and  join  me  with  the  righteous  :  and  grant 
that  I  may  be  spoken  of  with  honor  among  the  latest  pos- 
terity ;  and  make  me  an  heir  of  the  garden  of  delight :  and 
forgive  my  father,  for  that  he  hath  been  one  of  those  who 
go  astray.  And  cover  me  not  with  shame  on  the  day  of 
resurrection  ;  on  the  day  in  which  neither  riches  nor  chil- 
dren shall  avail,  unless  unto  him  who  shall  come  unto  GOD 
with  a  sincere  heart :  when  paradise  shall  be  brought  near 
to  the  view  of  the  pious,  and  hell  shall  appear  plainly  to 
those  who  shall  have  erred :  and  it  shall  be  said  unto  them, 
Where  are  your  deities  which  ye  served  besides  GOD  ?  will 
they  deliver  you  from  punishment,  or  will  they  d«liver 
themselves  ?  And  they  shall  be  cast  into  the  same,  both 
they,  and  those  who  have  been  seduced  to  their  worship; 
and  all  the  host  of  Eblis.  The  seduced  shall  dispute  there- 
in with  their  false  gods,  saying,  By  GOD,  we  were  in  a 
manifest  error,  when  we  equalled  you  with  the  LORD  of 
all  creatures :  and  none  seduced  us  but  the  wicked.  We 
have  now  no  intercessors,  nor  any  friend  who  careth  for 
us.  If  we  were  allowed  to  return  once  more  into  the  world, 
we  would  certainly  become  true  believers.  Verily  hereia 
was  a  sign ;  but  the  greater  part  of  them  believed  not. 
The  LORD  is  the  mighty,  the  merciful.  The  people  of 
Noah  accused  God't  messengers  of  imposture :  when  their 
brother  Noah  said  unto  them,  Will  ye  not  fear  God  ?  Verily 
I  am  a  faithful  messenger  unto  you ;  wherefore  fear  GOD, 
and  obey  me.  I  ask  no  reward  of  you  for  my  preaching 
unto  you;  I  expect  my  reward  from  no  other  than  the 
LORD  of  all  creatures :  wherefore  fear  GOD,  and  obey  me. 
They  answered,  Shall  we  believe  on  thee,  when  only  the 
most  abject  persons  have  followed  thee  ?  Noah  said,  I  have 
no  knowledge  of  that  which  they  did ;  it  appertained  unto 
my  LORD  alone  to  bring  them  to  account,  if  ye  under 


AL  KORAN.  197 

itand ;  wherefore  I  will  not  drive  away  the  believers :  I 
am  no  more  than  a  public  preacher.  They  replied,  Assur- 
edly, unless  thou  desist,  0  Noah,  thou  shalt  be  stoned.  He 
eaid,  0  LORD,  verily  my  people  take  me  for  a  liar  ;  where- 
fore judge  publicly  between  me  and  them ;  and  deliver  me 
and  the  true  believers  who  are  with  me.  Wherefore  we 
delivered  him,  and  those  who  were  with  him,  in  the  ark 
filled  with  men  and  animals;  and  afterwards  we  drowned 
the  rest.  Verily  herein  was  a  sign ;  but  the  greater  part 
•f  them  believed  ~ot.  Thy  LORD  is  the  mighty,  the  merci- 
ful. The  tribe  of  Ad  charged  God's  messengers  with  false- 
hood :  when  their  brother  Hud  said  unto  them,  Will  ye  not 
fear  God  ?  Verily  I  am  a  faithful  messenger  unto  you ; 
wherefore  fear  GOD,  and  obey  me.  [I  demand  not  of  you 
any  reward  for  my  preaching  unto  you  :  1  expect  my  reward 
from  no  other  than  the  LORD  of  all  creatures.  Do  ye  build 
a  landmark  on  every  high  place,  to  divert  yourselves  ?  And 
do  ye  erect  magnificent  works,  hoping  that  ye  may  continue 
in  their  possession  forever  ?  And  when  ye  exercise  your 
power,  do  ye  exercise  it  with  cruelty  and  rigor  ?  Fear 
GOD,  by  leaving  these  things  ;  and  obey  me.]  And  fear  him 
who  hath  bestowed  on  you  that  which  ye  know :  he  hath 
bestowed  on  you  cattle,  and  children,  and  gardens,  and 
springs  of  water.  Verily  I  fear  for  you  the  punishment  of 
a  grievous  day.  They  answered,  It  is  equal  unto  us  whether 
thou  admonish  us,  or  dost  not  admonish  us  :  this  which  thou 
preachest  is  only  a  device  of  the  ancients ;  neither  shall  we 
be  punished  for  what  we  have  done.  And  they  accused  him 
of  imposture  :  wherefore  we  destroyed  them.  Verily  herein 
was  a  sign  :  but  the  greater  part  of  them  believed  not.  Thy 
LORD  is  the  mighty,  the  merciful.  The  tribe  of  Thamud 
also  charged  the  messengers  of  God  with  falsehood.  When 
their  brother  Saleh  said  unto  them,  Will  ye  not  fear  God 9 
Verily  I  am  a  faithful  messenger  unto  you  :  wherefore  fear 
GOD,  and  obey  me.  I  demand  no  reward  of  you  for  my 
preaching  unto  you :  I  expect  my  reward  from  no  other  than 
the  LORD  of  all  creatures.  Shall  ye  be  left  forever  secure 
in  the  possession  of  the  things  which  are  here ;  among  gar- 
dens, and  fountains,  and  corn,  and  palm-trees,  whose  branches 
sheathe  their  flowers.  And  will  ye  continue  to  cut  habita- 
*ions  for  yourselves  out  of  the  mountains,  behaving  with  in- 
•olence  ?  Fear  GOD,  and  obey  me  ;  and  obey  not  the  com- 


|98  AL  KORAN. 

mand  of  the  transgressors,  who  act  corruptly  in  the  earth, 
and  reform  not  the  same.  They  answered,  Verily  thou  art 
distracted :  thou  art  no  other  than  a  man  like  unto  ua : 
produce  now  some  sign,  if  thou  speakest  truth.  Saleh  said, 
This  she-camel  shall  be  a  sign  unto  you  :  she  shall  have  her 
portion  of  water,  and  ye  shall  have  your  portion  of  water 
alternately,  on  a  several  day  appointed  for  you  ;  and  do  her 
no  hurt,  lest  the  punishment  of  a  terrible  day  be  inflicted 
on  you.  But  they  slew  her ;  and  were  made  to  repent  of 
their  impiety :  for  the  punishment  which  had  been  threatened 
overtook  them.  Verily  herein  was  a  sign ;  but  the  greater 
part  of  them  did  not  believe.  Thy  LORD  is  the  mighty, 
the  merciful.  The  people  of  Lot  likewise  accused  God's 
messengers  of  imposture.  When  their  brother  Lot  said 
unto  them,  Will  ye  not  fear  God?  Verily  I  am  a  faithful 
messenger  unto  you :  wherefore  fear  GOD,  and  obey  me.  I 
demand  no  reward  of  you  for  my  preaching :  I  expect  my 
reward  from  no  other  than  the  LORD  of  all  creatures.  Do 
ye  approach  unto  the  males  among  mankind,  and  leave  your 
wives  which  your  LORD  hath  created  for  you.  Surely  ye 
are  people  who  transgress.  They  answered,  Unless  thou 
desist,  0  Lot,  thou  shalt  certainly  be  expelled  our  city.  He 
said,  Verily  I  am  one  of  those  who  abhor  your  doings :  O 
LORD,  deliver  me,  and  my  family,  from  that  which  they  act 
Wherefore  we  delivered  him,  and  all  his  family,  except  an 
old  woman,  hit  wife,  who  perished  among  those  who  remained 
behind ;  then  we  destroyed  the  rest ;  and  we  rained  on  them 
a  shower  of  stones  ;  and  terrible  was  the  shower  which  feU 
on  those  who  had  been  warned  in  vain.  Verily  herein  was 
a  sign  ;  but  the  greater  part  of  them  did  not  believe.  Thy 
LORD  is  the  mighty,  the  merciful.  The  inhabitants  of  the 
wood  also  accused  GOD'S  messengers  of  imposture.  When 
Shoaib  said  unto  him,  Will  ye  not  fear  Godl  Verily  I  am 
a  faithful  messenger  unto  you:  wherefore  fear  GOD,  and 
obey  me.  I  ask  no  reward  of  you  for  my  preaching:  I  ex- 
pect my  reward  from  no  other  than  the  LORD  of  all  crea- 
iures.  Give  just  measure,  and  be  not  defrauders;  and 
weigh  with  an  equal  balance ;  and  diminish  not  unto  men 
aught  of  their  matters ;  neither  commit  violence  in  the  earth, 
acting  corruptly.  And  fear  him  who  hath  created  you,  and 
fko  the  former  generations.  They  answered,  Certainly  thou 
*rt  distracted ;  thou  art  no  more  than  a  man,  like  unto  u» 


AL  KORAN  299 

and  we  do  surely  esteem  thee  to  be  a  liar.  Cause  now  a 
part  of  the  heaven  to  fall  upon  us,  if  thou  speakest  truth. 
Shoaib  said,  My  LORD  best  knoweth  that  which  ye  do. 
And  they  charged  him  with  falsehood  :  wherefore  the  punish- 
ment of  the  day  of  the  shadowing  cloud  overtook  them; 
and  this  was  the  punishment  of  a  grievous  day.  Verily 
herein  was  a  sign ;  but  the  greater  part  of  them  did  not 
believe.  Thy  LORD  is  the  mighty,  the  merciful.  Thig 
book  is  certainly  a  revelation  from  the  LORD  of  all  crea- 
tures, which  the  faithful  spirit  hath  caused  to  descend  upon 
thy  heart,  that  thou  mightest  be  a  preacher  to  thy  people, 
in  the  perspicuous  Arabic  tongue ;  and  it  is  borne  witness 
to  in  the  scriptures  of  former  ages.  Was  it  not  a  sign  unto 
them,  that  the  wise  men  among  the  children  of  Israel  knew 
it?  Had  we  revealed  it  unto  any  of  the  foreigners,  and 
he  had  read  the  same  unto  them,  yet  they  would  not  have 
believed  therein.  Thus  have  we  caused  obstinate  infidelity 
to  enter  the  hearts  of  the  wicked:  they  shall  not  believe 
therein,  until  they  see  a  painful  punishment.  It  shall  come 
suddenly  upon  them,  and  they  shall  not  foresee  it:  and 
they  shall  say,  Shall  we  be  respited  ?  Do  they  therefore 
desire  our  punishment  to  be  hastened  ?  What  thinkest 
thou  ?  If  we  suffer  them  to  enjoy  the  advantage  of  this  life 
for  several  years,  and  afterwards  that  with  which  they  are 
threatened  come  upon  them ;  what  will  that  which  they 
have  enjoyed  profit  them?  We  have  destroyed  no  city, 
but  preachers  were  first  sent  unto  it,  to  admonish  the  in- 
habitants thereof;  neither  did  we  treat  them  unjustly.  The 
devils  did  not  descend  with  the  Koran,  as  the  infidels  give 
out:  it  is  not  for  their  purpose,  neither  are  they  able  to 
produce  such  a  book  ;  for  they  are  far  removed  from  hear- 
ing the  discourse  of  the  angeh  in  heaven.  Invoke  no  other 
god  with  the  true  GOD,  lest  thou  become  one  of  those  who 
are  doomed  to  punishment.  And  admonish  thy  more  near 
relations.  And  behave  thyself  with  meekness  towards  the 
true  believers  who  follow  thee :  and  if  they  be  disobedient 
unto  thee,  say,  Verily,  I  am  clear  of  that  which  ye  do.  And 
trust  in  the  most  mighty,  the  merciful  God  ;  who  seeth  thee 
when  thou  risest  up,  and  thy  behavior  among  those  who 
worship ;  for  he  both  heareth  and  knoweth.  Shall  I  declare 
onto  you  upon  whom  the  devils  descend?  They  descend 
•pon  every  lying  and  wicked  person :  they  learn  what  U 


(00  AL  KORAH. 

heard ;  but  the  greater  part  of  them  are  liars.  And  thos« 
who  err  follow  the  steps  of  the  poets :  dost  thou  not  see 
that  they  rove  as  bereft  of  their  senses  through  every  valley  ; 
and  that  they  say  that  which  they  do  not  ?  except  those  who 
believe,  and  do  good  works,  and  remember  GOD  frequently  ; 
and  who  defend  themselves,  after  they  have  been  unjustly 
treated.  And  they  who  act  unjustly  shall  know  hereafter 
with  what  treatment  they  shall  be  treated. 


,  THE  ANT;  BEVEALED  A*  MECCA. 

Ill    THB    HAM*    Or   THB    MOST    MJEBOXTOI.   GOD. 

T.  S.  THESE  art  the  signs  of  the  Koran,  and  of  the  per- 
spicuous  book :  a  direction,  and  good  tidings  unto  the  true 
believers  ?  who  regularly  perform  their  prayer,  and  give  alms, 
and  firmly  believe  hi  the  life  to  come.  As  to  those  who  be- 
lieve not  hi  the  life  to  come,  we  have  prepared  their  works 
for  them  ;  and  they  shall  be  struck  with  astonishment  at  their 
disappointment,  when  they  shatt  be  raised  again:  these  are 
they  whom  an  evil  punishment  awaiteth  in  this  life  ;  and  hi 
that  which  is  to  come  they  shall  be  the  greatest  losers.  Thou 
hast  certainly  received  the  Koran  from  the  presence  of  a 
wise,  a  knowing  God.  Remember  when  Moses  said  unto  hia 
family,  Verily  I  perceive  fire ;  I  will  bring  you  tidings  there- 
of, or  I  will  bring  you  a  lighted  brand,  that  ye  may  be 
wanned.  And  when  he  was  come  near  unto  it,  a  voice  cried 
unto  him,  saying.  Blessed  be  he  who  is  in  the  fire,  and  whoever 
is  about  it ;  and  praise  be  unto  GOD,  the  LORD  of  all  crea- 
tures 1  0  Moses,  verily  I  am  GOD,  the  mighty,  the  wise : 
»ast  down  now  thy  rod.  And  when  he  saw  it,  that  it  moved, 
as  though  it  had  been  a  serpent,  he  retreated,  and  fled,  and 
returned  not  And  God  said,  0  Moses,  fear  not ;  for  my 
messengers  are  not  disturbed  with  fear  in  my  sight :  except 
he  who  shall  have  done  amiss,  and  shall  have  afterwards  sub- 
stituted good  hi  lieu  of  evil ;  for  I  am  gracious  and  merciful 
Moreover  put  thy  hand  into  thy  bosom ;  it  shall  come  forth 


AL  KORAN.  301 

white,  without  hurt :  this  shall  be  one  among  the  nine  signs 
unto  Pharaoh  and  his  people :  for  they  are  a  wicked  people. 
And  when  our  visible  signs  had  come  unto  them,  they  said, 
This  is  a  manifest  sorcery.  And  they  denied  them,  although 
their  souls  certainly  knew  them  to  be  from  God,  out  of  iniquity 
and  pride :  but  behold  what  was  the  end  of  the  corrupt  doers 
We  heretofore  bestowed  knowledge  on  David  and  Solomon ; 
and  they  said,  Praise  be  unto  GOD,  who  hath  made  us  more 
excellent  than  many  of  his  faithful  servants !  And  Solomon 
was  David's  heir ;  and  he  said,  O  men,  we  have  been  taught 
the  speech  of  birds,  and  have  had  all  things  bestowed  on  us ; 
this  is  manifest  excellence.  And  his  armies  were  gathered 
together  unto  Solomon,  consisting  of*  genii,  and  men,  and 
birda ;  and  they  were  led  in  distinct  bands,  until  they  came 
unto  the  valley  of  ants.  And  an  ant,  seeing  the  hosts  ap- 
proaching, said,  O  ants,  enter  ye  into  your  habitations,  lest 
Solomon  and  his  army  tread  you  under  foot,  and  perceive  it 
not.  And  Solomon  smiled,  laughing  at  her  words,  and  said, 

0  LOED,  excite  me  that  I  may  be  thankful  for  thy  favor, 
wherewith  thou   hast  favored  me,  and  my  parents  ;  and  that 

1  may  do  that  which  is  right,  and  well-pleasing  unto  thee  : 
and  introduce  me,  through  thy  mercy,  into  paradise,  among 
thy  servants  the  righteous.    And  he  viewed  the  birds,  and  said, 
What  is  the  reason  that  I  see  not  the  lapwing?1  Is  she 
absent  ?     Verily  I  will  chastise  her  with  a  severe  chastise- 
ment, or  I  will  put  her  to  death  ;  unless  she  bring  me  a  just 
excuse.     And  she  tarried  not  long  before  she  presented  herself 
unto  Solomon,  and  said,  I  have  viewed  a  country  which  thou 
hast  not  viewed ;  and  I  come  unto  thee  from  Saba,  with  a 
certain  piece  of  news.     I  found  a  woman  to  reign  over  them, 
who  is  provided  with  everything  requisite  for  a  prince,  and 
hath  a  magnificent  throne. 3  I  found  her  and  her  people  to 
worship  the  sun,  besides  GOD  :  and  Satan  hath  prepared  their 
works  for  them,  and  hath  turned  them  aside  from  the  way  of 
truth  (wherefore  they   are   not  rightly  directed),  lest  they 
should  worship   GOD,  who  bringeth   to  light  that  which   is 
hidden  in  heaven  and  earth,  and  knoweth  whatever  they  con- 
ceal, and  whatever  they  discover.     GOD  !  there  is  no  GOD 
but  he  ;  the  LORD  of  the  magnificent  throne.     Solomon  said, 
We  shall  see  whether  thou  hast  spoken  the  truth,  or  whether 
thou  art  a  liar.     Go  with  this  my  letter,  and  cast  it  down 
onto  them:  then  turn  aside   from  them,  and  wait  to  know 


802  AL  KORAN. 

what  answer  they  will  return.  And  when  the  Quetn  of  Saba 
had  received  the  letter,  she  said,  O  nobles,  verily  an  honorable 
letter  hath  been  delivered  unto  me;  it  is  from  Solomon,  and 
this  is  the  tenor  thereof:  In  the  name  of  the  most  merciful 
GOD,  Rise  not  up  against  me:  but  come  and  surrender  yo«.f- 
selves  unto  me.  She  said,  O  nobles,  advise  me  in  my  business  : 
I  will  not  resolve  on  anything,  until  ye  be  witnesses  and  ap- 
prove thereof.  The  nobles  answered,  We  are  endued  with 
strength,  and  are  endued  with  great  prowess  in  war ;  but  the 
command  appertained  unto  thee:  see  therefore  what  thoc 
wilt  command.  She  said,  Verily  kings,  when  they  enter  a 
city  by  force,  waste  the  same,  and  abase  the  most  powerful 
of  the  inhabitants  hereof:  and  so  will  these  do  with  us.  But 
I  will  send  gifts  unto  them  ;  and  will  wait  for  what  further 
information  those  who  shall  be  sent  shall  bring  back.  And 
when  the  queen's  ambassador  came  unto  Solomon,  that  prince 
said,  Will  ye  present  me  with  riches  P1  Verily  that  which 
GOD  hath  given  me  is  better  than  what  he  hath  given  you : 
but  ye  do  glory  in  your  gifts.  Return  unto  the  people  of  Saba. 
We  will  surely  come  unto  them  with  forces,  which  they  shall 
not  be  able  to  withstand  ;  and  we  will  drive  them  out  from 
ihdr  city,  humbled ;  and  they  shall  become  contemptible.  And 
Solomon  said,  0  nobles,  which  of  you  will  bring  unto  me  her 
throne,  before  they  come  and  surrender  themselves  unto  me  ? 
A  terrible  genius  answered,  I  will  bring  it  unto  thee,  before 
thou  arise  from  thy  place :  for  I  am  able  to  perform  it,  and 
may  be  trusted.  And  one  with  whom  was  the  knowledge 
of  the  scriptures  said,  I  will  bring  it  unto  thee,  in  the 
twinkling  of  an  eye.  And  when  Solomon  saw  the  throne 
placed  before  him,  he  said,  This  is  a  favor  of  my  LORD, 
that  he  may  make  trial  of  me,  whether  I  will  be  grateful 
or  whether  I  will  be  ungrateful  ;  and  he  who  is  grate- 
ful is  grateful  to  his  own  advantage,  but  if  any  shall  be  un- 
grateful, verily  my  LORD  is  self-sufficient  and  munificent. 
And  Solomon  said  unto  his  servants,  Alter  her  throne,  that 
•he  may  not  know  it,  to  the  end  we  may  see  whether  she  be 
riyhtly  directed,  or  whether  she  be  one  of  those  who  are  not 
rightly  directed.  And  when  she  was  come  unto  Solomon,  it 
was  said  unto  her,  is  thy  throne  like  this  ?  She  answered,  As 
though  it  were  the  same.  And  we  have  had  knowledge  be- 
Itowed  on  us  before  this,  and  have  been  resigned  unto  God. 
But  that  which  she  worshipped,  besides  GOD,  had  turned  her 


AL  KORAN.  808 

aside  from  the  truth  ;  for  she  was  of  an  unbelieving  people.  It 
was  said  unto  her,  Enter  the  palace.  And  when  she  saw  it, 
she  imagined  it  to  be  a  great  water  ;  and  she  discovered  her 
legs,  by  lifting  up  her  robe  to  pass  through  it.  Whereupon 
Solomon  said  unto  her,  Verily  this  is  a  palace  evenly  floored 
with  glass.  Tfien  said  the  queen,  O  LORD,  verily  I  have  dealt 
unjustly  with  my  own  soul;  and  I  resign  myself,  together 
with  Solomon,  unto  GOD,  the  LORD  of  all  creatures.  Also 
we  heretofore  sent  unto  the  tribe  of  Thamud  their  brother 
Saleh;  who  said  unto  them,  Serve  ye  GOD.  And  behold, 
they  were  divided  into  two  parties,  who  disputed  among  them- 
selves. Saleh  said,  0  my  people  why  do  ye  hasten  evil  rather 
than  good  ?  Unless  yfc  ask  pardon  of  GOD,  that  ye  may  ob- 
tain mercy,  ye  are  lost.  They  answered,  We  presage  evil 
from  thee,  and  from  those  who  are  with  thee.  Saleh  replied, 
The  evil  which  ye  presage  is  with  GOD  :  but  ye  are  a  peo- 
ple who  are  proved  by  a  vicissitude  of  prosperity  and  adversity. 
And  there1  were  nine  men  in  the  city,  who  acted  corruptly  in 
the  earth,  and  behaved  not  with  integrity.  And  they  said 
unto  one  another,  Swear  ye  reciprocally  by  GOD,  that  we 
will  fall  upon  Saleh  and  his  family  by  night :  and  afterwards 
we  will  say  unto  him  who  hath  right  to  avenge  his  blood, 
We  were  not  so  much  as  present  at  the  destruction  of  his 
family ;  and  we  certainly  speak  the  truth.  And  they  devised 
a  plot  against  him :  but  we  devised  a  plot  against  them  ;  and 
they  perceived  it  not.  And  see  what  was  the  issue  of  their 
plot,  we  utterly  destroyed  them  and  their  whole  people  ;  and 
these  their  habitations  remain  empty,  because  of  the  injustice 
which  they  committed.  Verily  herein  is  a  sign  unto  people 
who  understand.  And  we  delivered  those  who  believed,  and 
feared  God.  And  remember  Lot ;  when  he  said  unto  his  peo- 
ple, Do  ye  commit  a  wickedness,  though  ye  see  the  heinous- 
ness  thereof1?  Do  ye  approach  lustfully  unto  men,  leaving 
the  women  ?  Ye  are  surely  an  ignorant  people.  But  the 
answer  of  his  people  was  no  other  than  that  they  said,  Cast 
the  family  of  Lot  out  of  your  city  :  for  they  are  men  who 
preserve  themselves  pure  from  the  crimes  of  which  ye  are 
guilty.  Wherefore  we  delivered  him  and  his  family,  except 
his  wife,  whom  we  decreed  to  be  one  of  those  who  remained 
behind  to  be  destroyed.  And  we  rained  on  them  a  shower 
9f  stones :  and  dreadful  was  the  shower  which  feil  on  those 
*bo  had  been  warned  in  vain!  Say,  Praise  be  unto  GOD; 


304  ±L   KORAN. 


and  peace  be  upon  his  servants  Afhom  he  hath  chosen  !  Is 
GOD  more  worthy,  or  the  false  gods  which  they  associate 
with  him  ?  7*  not  he  to  be  preferred,  who  hath  created  the 
heavens  and  the  earth,  and  sendeth  down  rain  for  you  from 
heaven,  whereby  we  cause  delicious  groves  to  spring  up  ?  It 
is  oot  in  your  power  to  cause  the  trees  thereof  to  shoot  forth. 
Is  there  any  other  god  partner  with  the  true  GOD  ?  Verily 
these  are  a  people  who  deviate  from  the  truth.  Is  not  he 
more  worthy  to  be  adored,  who  hath  established  the  earth,  and 
hath  caused  rivers  to  flow  through  the  midst  thereof,  and 
placed  thereon  immovable  mountains,  and  set  a  bar  between 
the  two  seas?  Is  there  any  other  god  equal  with  the  true 
GOD  ?  Yet  the  greater  part  of  them  know  it  not.  Is  not  he 
more  worthy  who  heareth  the  afflicted,  when  he  calleth  upon 
him,  and  taketh  off  the  evil  which  distressed  him  :  and  who 
hath  made  you  the  successors  of  your  forefathers  in  the  earth  ? 
Is  there  any  other  god  who  can  be  equalled  with  the  true  GOD  ? 
How  few  consider  these  things  !  Is  not  he  more  worthy  who 
directeth  you  in  the  dark  paths  of  the  land  and  of  the  sea  ; 
and  who  sendeth  the  winds  driving  abroad  the  clouds,  as  the 
forerunners  of  his  mercy  !  Is  there  any  other  god  who  can 
be  equalled  with  the  true  God?  Far  be  GOD  from  having 
those  partners  in  his  power,  which  ye  associate  with  him.  2* 
not  he  more  worthy,  who  produceth  a  creature,  and  after  it 
hath  been  dead  restoreth  it  to  life  ;  and  who  giveth  you  food 
from  heaven  and  earth  ?  Is  there  any  other  god  with  the  true 
GOD,  who  doth  this  f  Say,  Produce  your  proof  thereof,  if 
ye  speak  truth.  Say,  None  either  in  heaven  or  earth  knoweth 
that  which  is  hidden,  besides  GOD  :  neither  do  they  under- 
stand when  they  shall  be  raised.  However,  their  knowledge 
attaineth  some  notion  of  the  life  to  come  :  yet  they  are  in  an 
uncertainty  concerning  the  same  ;  yea,  they  are  blind  as  to 
the  real  circumstances  thereof.  And  the  unbelievers  say, 
When  we  and  our  fathers  shall  have  been  reduced  to  dust, 
shall  we  be  taken  forth  from  the  grave  ?  Verily  \ve  have 
been  threatened  with  this,  both  we  and  our  fathers,  heretofore. 
This  is  no  other  than  fables  of  the  ancients.  Say  unto  them, 
Pass  through  the  earth,  and  see  what  hath  been  the  end  of 
the  wicked.  And  be  not  thou  grieved  for  them  ;  neither  be 
thou  in  any  concern  on  account  of  the  plots  which  they  are 
contriving  against  thee.  And  they  say,  When  will  this  threat 
to  accomplished,  if  ye  speak  true  ?  Answer,  Peradventura 


AL  KORAN.  805 

•ome  part  of  that  punishment,  which  ye  desire  to  be  hastened 
may  follow  close  behind  you :  verily  thy  LORD  is  endued 
with  indulgence  towards  mankind ;  but  the  greater  part  of 
them  are  not  thankful.  Verily  thy  LORD  knoweth  what  their 
breasts  conceal,  and  what  they  discover :  and  there  is  nothing 
hidden  in  heaven  or  on  earth,  but  it  is  written  in  a  clear  book. 
Verily  this  Koran  declareth  unto  the  children  of  Israel  most 
of  those  points  concerning  which  they  disagree  :  and  it  is  cer- 
tainly a  direction,  and  a  mercy  unto  the  true  believers.  Thy 
LORD  wiL  decide  the  controversy  between  them,  by  his  defin- 
itive sentence :  and  he  it  the  mighty,  the  wise.  Therefore, 
put  thy  trust  in  GOD  ;  for  thou  art  in  the  manifest  truth. 
Verily  thou  shalt  not  make  the  dead  to  hear,  neither  shalt 
thou  make  th*  deaf  to  hear  thy  call  to  the  true  faith,  when 
they  retire  and  turn  their  backs  :  neither  shalt  thou  direct  the 
blind  to  extricate  themselves  out  of  their  error.  Thou  shalt 
make  none  to  hear  thee,  except  him  who  shall  believe  in  our 
signs  :  and  they  are  wholly  resigned  unto  us.  When  the  sen- 
tence shall  be  ready  to  fall  upon  them,  we  will  cause  a  beast 
to  come  forth  unto  them  from  out  of  the  earth,  which  shall 
speak  unto  them :  verily  men  do  not  firmly  believe  in  our 
signs.  On  the  day  of  resurrection  we  will  assemble,  out  of 
every  nation,  a  company  of  those  who  shall  have  charged  our 
signs  with  falsehood  ;  and  they  shall  be  prevented  from  mix- 
ing together,  until  they  shall  arrive  at  the  place  of  judgment. 
And  God  shall  say  unto  them,  Have  ye  charged  my  signs  with 
falsehood,  although  ye  comprehended  them  not  with  your 
knowledge.  Or  what  is  it  that  ye  were  doing?  And  the 
sentence  of  damnation  shall  fall  on  them,  for  that  they 
have  acted  unjustly :  and  they  shall  not  speak  in  their  own 
excuse.  Do  they  not  see  that  we  have  ordained  the  night, 
that  they  may  rest  therein,  and  the  day  giving  open  light  ? 
Verily  herein  are  signs  unto  people  who  believe.  On  thai 
day  the  trumpet  shall  be  sounded ;  and  whoever  are  in  heaven 
and  on  earth  shall  be  struck  with  terror,  except  those  whom 
GOD  shall  please  to  exempt  therefrom :  and  all  shall  come 
before  him  in  humble  guise.  And  thou  shalt  see  the  moun- 
tains, and  shalt  think  them  firmly  fixed  ;  but  they  shall  pass 
away,  even  as  the  clouds  pass  away.  This  will  be  the  work 
*f  GOD,  who  hath  rightly  disposed  all  things  :  and  he  is  well 
acquainted  with  that  which  ye  do.  Whoever  shall  have 
wrought  righteousness,  shall  receive  a  reward  beyond  the 


306  AL  KORAN. 

desert  thereof;  and  they  shall  be  secure  from  the  terror  of 
that  day :  but  whoever  shall  have  wrought  evil,  shall  b« 
thrown  on  their  faces  into  hell  fire.  Shall  ye  receive  the  re- 
ward of  any  other  than  of  that  which  ye  shall  have  wrought  ? 
Verily  I  am  commanded  to  worship  the  LORD  of  this  terri- 
tory of  Mecca,  who  hath  sanctified  the  same  :  unto  him  belong 
all  things.  And  I  am  commanded  to  be  a  Moslem,  and  to 
rehearse  the  Koran :  he  who  shall  be  directed  thereby  will  be 
directed  to  his  own  advantage;  and  to  him  who  shall  go 
astray,  say,  Verily  I  am  a  warner  only.  And  say,  Praise  be 
unto  GOD  !  he  will  show  you  his  signs,  and  ye  shall  know 
them :  and  thy  LOBD  is  not  regardless  of  that  which  they 
do. 


CHAPTER  XXVm. 

,    THE    STORY;     REVEALED    AT    MECCA. 
IJC    THE    NAME   OF   THE    MOST    MERCIFUL   GOD. 

T.  S.  M.  THESE  are  the  signs  of  the  perspicuous  book. 
We  will  dictate  unto  thee,  0  Mohammed,  some  parts  of  the 
history  of  Moses  and  Pharaoh,  with  truth  ;  for  the  sake  of 
people  who  believe.  Now  Pharaoh  lifted  himself  up  in  the 
land  of  Egypt ;  and  he  caused  his  subjects  to  be  divided  into 
parties  ;  he  weakened  one  party  of  them,  by  slaying  their 
male  children,  and  preserving  their  females  alive ;  for  he 
was  an  oppressor.  And  we  were  minded  to  be  gracious 
unto  those  who  were  weakened  in  the  land,  and  to  make 
them  models  of  religion  ;  and  to  make  them  the  heirs  of  the 
wealth  of  Pharaoh  and  his  people,  and  to  establish  a  place 
for  them  in  the  earth ;  and  to  show  Pharaoh  and  Haman, 
and  their  forces,  that  destruction  of  their  kingdom  and  nation 
by  them,  which  they  sought  to  avoid.  And  we  directed  the 
mother  of  Moses  by  revelation,  saying,  give  him  suck  :  and 
if  thou  fearest  for  him,  cast  him  into  the  river ;  and  fear  not, 
neither  be  afflicted ;  for  we  will  restore  him  unto  thee,  and 
will  appoint  him  one  of  our  apostles.  And  when  she  had  put 
the  child  in  the  ark,  and  had  cast  it  into  the  river,  the  family 
ot  Pharaoh  took  him  up  ;  providence  designing  that  he  should 


AL   KORAN.  807 

become  an  enemy,  and  a  sorrow  unto  them.  Verily  Pharaoh 
and  Haman,  and  their  forces  were  sinners.  And  the  wife  of 
Pharaoh  said,  This  child  is  a  delight  of  the  eye  to  me,  and  to 
thee :  kill  him  not ;  peradventure  it  may  happen  that  he  may 
be  serviceable  unto  us ;  or  we  may  adopt  him  for  our  son. 
And  they  perceived  not  the  consequence  of  what  they  wert 
doing.  And  the  heart  of  the  mother  of  Moses  became  op- 
pressed with  fear ;  and  she  had  almost  discovered  him,  had 
we  not  armed  her  heart  with  constancy,  that  she  might  be 
or*  of  those  who  believe  the  promises  of  God.  And  she  said 
unto  his  sister,  Follow  him.  And  she  watched  him  at  a  dis- 
tance ;  and  they  perceived  it  not.  And  we  suffered  him  not 
to  take  the  breasts  of  the  nurses  who  were  provided  before  his 
gister  came  up  ;  and  she  said,  Shall  I  direct  you  unto  some  of 
his  nation,  who  may  nurse  him  for  you,  and  will  be  careful 
of  him  ?  And,  at  their  desire,  she  brought  his  mother  to  them. 
So  we  restored  him  to  his  mother,  that  her  mind  might  be 
set  a£  ease,  and  that  she  might  not  be  afflicted ;  and  that  she 
might  know  that  the  promise  of  GOD  was  true :  but  the 
greater  part  of  mankind  know  not  the  truth.  And  when 
Moses  had  attained  his  age  of  full  strength,  and  was  become 
a  perfect  man,  we  bestowed  on  him  wisdom  and  knowledge : 
and  thus  do  we  reward  the  upright.  And  he  went  into  the 
city,  at  a  time  when  the  inhabitants  thereof  observed  not  what 
passed  in  the  street :  and  he  found  therein  two  men  fighting ; 
the  one  being  of  his  own  party,  and  the  other  of  his  enemies. 
And  he  who  was  of  his  party  begged  his  assistance  against 
him  who  was  of  the  contrary  party ;  and  Moses  struck  him 
with  his  fist,  and  slew  him :  but  being  sorry  for  what  had  hap- 
pened, he  said,  This  is  of  the  work  of  the  devil ;  for  he  is  a 
seducing  and  an  open  enemy.  And  he  said,  0  LORD,  verily 
I  have  injured  my  own  soul :  wherefore  forgive  me.  So  God 
forgave  him ;  for  he  is  ready  to  forgive,  and  merciful.  He 
said,  O  LORD,  hy  the  favors  with  which  thou  hast  favored 
me,  I  will  not  be  an  assistant  to  the  wicked  for  the  future. 
And  the  next  morning  he  was  afraid  in  the  city,  and  looked 
about  him,  as  one  apprehensive  of  danger:  and  behold,  he 
whom  he  had  assisted  the  day  before  cried  out  unto  him  for 
help  a  second  time.  But  Moses  said  unto  him,  Thou  art 
plainly  a  quarrelsome  fellow.  And  when  he  sought  to  lay 
hold  on  him  who  was  an  enemy  unto  them  both,  he  said, 
0  Moses,  dost  thou  intend  to  kill  me,  as  thou  killedst  a  man 


808  AL  KORAN. 

yesterday?    Thou  seekest  only  to  be  an  oppressor  in  th« 
earth,  and  seekest  not  to  be  a  reconciler  of  quarrel*.     And  a 
certain  man  came  from  the  farther  part  of  the  city,  running 
hastily,  and  said,  O  Moses,  verily  the  magistrates  are  delib- 
erating concerning  thee,  to  put  thee  to  death :  depart  there- 
fore ;  I  certainly  advise  thee  well.     Wherefore  he  departed 
out  of  the  city\n  great  fear,  looking  this  way  and  that,  lest 
he  should  be  pursued.    And  he  said,  O  LORD,  deliver  me  from 
the  unjust  people.    And  when  he  was  journeying  towards  Ma* 
dian,  he  said,  Peradventure  my  LORD  will  direct  me  in  tho 
right  way.    And  when  he  arrived  at  the  water  of  Madian,  he 
found  about  the  wett  a  company  of  men,  who  were  watering 
their  flocks.     And  he  found,  besides  them,  two  women,  who 
kept  off  their  sheep  at  a  distance.    And  he  said  unto  them, 
What  is  the  matter  with  you?    They  answered,  We  shall 
not  watei  our  flock,  until  the  shepherds  shall  have  driven 
away  theirs  ;  for  our  father  is  an  old  man,  stricken  in  years. 
So  Moses  watered  their  sheep  for  them,  and  afterwards  retired 
into  the  shade,  saying,  O  LORD,  verily  I  stand  in  need  of 
the  good  which  thou  shalt  send  down  unto  me.     And  one  of 
the  damsels  came  unto  him,  walking  bashfully,  and  said,  My 
father  calleth  thee,  that  he   may  recompense   thee  for  the 
trouble  which  thou  hast  taken  in  watering  our  sheep  for  us. 
And  when  he  was  come  unto  Shoaib,  and  had  told  him  the 
etory  of  his  adventures,  he  said  unto  him,  Fear  not :  thou  hast 
escaped  from  unjust  people.     And  one  of  the  damsels  said, 
My  father,  hire  him  for  certain  wages :  the  best  servant  thou 
canst  hire  is  an  able  and  trusty  person.     And  Shoaib  said 
unto  Moses,  Verily  I  will  give  thee  one  of  these  my  two 
daughters  in   marriage,  on   condition    that  thou   serve   me 
for  hire  eight  years;  and  if  thou  fulfil  ten  years,  it  is  in 
thine  own  breast ;  for  I  seek  not  to  impose  a  hardship  on 
thee:   and  thou  shalt  find  me,  if  GOD   please,  a  man  of 
probity      Moses  answered,  Let  this  be  the  covenant  between 
me  and  thee:   whichsoever  of  the  two  terms  I  shall  fulfil 
let  it  be   no  crime   in   me  if  I  then  quit  thy  service;   and 
GOD  is  witness  of  that  which  we  say.     And  when  Moses 
had  fulfilled  the  term,  and  was  journeying  with  his  family 
towards  Egypt,  he    saw  fire   on   the  side  of  Mount  Sinai1 
And  he    said    unto   his   family,  Tarry  ye  here;   for  I  see 
ire :   peradventure  I  may  bring   you    thence    some  tidings 
•f  the  way,  or  at  least  a  brand  out  of  the  fire,  that  ye  may 


AL  KORAN.  309 

be  warmed.  And  when  he  was  come  thereto,  a  voice  cried 
unto  him  from  the  right  side  of  the  valley,  in  the  sacred 
bottom,  from  the  tree,  saying,  0  Moses,  verily  I  am  GOD, 
the  LORD  of  all  creatures :  cast  down  now  thy  rod.  And 
when  he  saw  it  that  it  moved,  as  though  it  had  been  a  ser- 
pent, he  retreated  and  fled,  and  returned  not.  And  God  said 
unto  him,  0  Moses,  draw  near,  and  fear  not;  for  thou  art 
safe.  Put  thy  hand  into  thy  bosom,  and  it  shall  come  forth 
white,  without  any  hurt :  and  draw  back  thy  hand  unto  thee 
which  thou  stretchest  forth  for  fear.  These  shall  be  two  evi- 
dent signs  from  thy  LORD,  unto  Pharaoh  and  his  princes ; 
for  they  are  a  wicked  people.  Moses  said,  0  LORD,  verily 
I  have  slain  one  of  them ;  and  I  fear  they  will  put  me  to 
death :  but  my  brother  Aaron  is  of  a  more  eloquent  tongue 
than  I  am ;  wherefore  send  him  with  me  for  an  assistant, 
that  he  may  gain  me  credit ;  for  I  fear  lest  they  accuse  me 
of  imposture.  God  said,  We  will  strengthen  thine  arm  by  thy 
brother,  and  we  will  give  each  of  you  extraordinary  power, 
so  that  they  shall  not  come  up  to  you,  in  our  signs.  Ye  two, 
and  whoever  shall  follow  you,  shall  be  the  conquerors.  And 
when  Moses  came  unto  them  with  our  evident  signs,  they 
said,  This  is  no  other  than  a  deceitful  piece  of  sorcery : 
neither  have  we  heard  of  anything  like  this  among  our  fore- 
fathers. And  Moses  said,  My  LORD  best  knoweth  who 
cometh  with  a  direction  from  him ;  and  who  shall  have  suc- 
cess in  this  life,  as  well  as  the  next :  but  the  unjust  shall  not 
prosper.  And  Pharaoh  said,  O  princes,  I  did  not  know  that 
ye  had  any  other  god  besides  me.  Wherefore  do  thou,  O 
Hainan,  burn  me  clay  into  bricks ;  and  build  me  a  high 
tower,  that  I  may  ascend  unto  the  GOD  of  Moses :  for  I 
verily  believe  him  to  be  a  liar.1  And  both  he  and  his  forces 
behaved  themselves  insolently  and  unjustly  in  the  earth; 
and  imagined  that  they  should  not  be  brought  before  us 
to  be  judged.  Wherefore  we  took  him  and  his  forces,  and 
cast  them  into  the  sea.  Behold,  therefore,  what  was  the 
end  of  the  unjust.  And  we  made  them  deceitful  guides, 
inviting  their  followers  to  hell  fire ;  and  on  the  day  of  res- 
urrection they  shall  not  be  screened  from  punishment.  We 
pursued  them  with  a  curse  in  this  life ;  and  on  the  day  of 
resurrection  they  shall  be  shamefully  rejected.  And  we  gave 
the  book  of  the  law  unto  Moses,  after  he  had  destroyed  the 
former  generations,  to  enlighten  the  minds  of  men,  and  for  a 


310  AL  KOBAN. 

direction,  and  a  mercy ;  that  peradventure  they  might  con- 
sider.  Thou,  0  prophet,  wast  not  on  the  west  side  of  Monni 
Sinai,  when  we  delivered  Moses  his  commission  :  neither 
wast  thou  one  of  those  who  were  present  at  Ms  receiving  it 
but  we  raised  up  several  generations  after  Moses  ;  and  lifw 
was  prolonged  unto  them.  Neither  didst  thou  dwell  among 
the  inhabitants  of  Madian,  rehearsing  unto  them  our  signs 
but  we  have  sent  thee  fully  instructed  in  every  particular. 
Nor  wast  thou  present  on  the  side  of  the  mount,  when  we 
called  unto  Moses ;  but  thou  art  sent  as  a  mercy  from  thy 
LORD  ;  that  thou  mightest  preach  unto  a  people  to  whom  no 
preacher  hath  come  before  thee,  that  peradventure  they  may 
be  warned;  and  lest,  if  a  calamity  had  befallen  them,  for 
that  which  their  hands  had  previously  committed,  they  should 
have  said,  O  LORD,  since  thou  hast  not  sent  an  apostle  unto 
us,  that  we  might  follow  thy  signs,  and  become  true  be- 
lievers, are  we  not  excusable  ?  Yet  when  the  truth  is  come 
unto  them  from  before  us,  they  say,  Unless  he  receive 
the  same  power  to  work  miracles  as  Moses  received,  we 
will  not  believe.  Have  they  not  likewise  rejected  the  rev- 
tlation  which  was  heretofore  given  unto  Moses  ?  They  say, 
Two  cunning  impostures  have  mutually  assisted  one  another : 
and  they  say,  Verily  we  reject  them  both.  Say,  Produce 
therefore  a  book  from  GOD,  which  is  more  right  than  these 
two,  that  I  may  follow  it ;  if  ye  speak  truth.  But  if  they 
return  thee  no  answer,  know  that  they  only  follow  their  own 
desires :  and  who  erreth  more  widely  from  the  truth  than  he 
who  followeth  his  own  desire,  without  a  direction  from  GOD  ? 
Verily  GOD  directeth  not  the  unjust  people.  And  now  have 
we  caused  our  word  to  come  unto  them,  that  they  may  be 
admonished.  They  unto  whom  we  have  given  the  scriptures 
which  were  revealed  before  it,  believe  in  the  same  ;  and  when 
it  is  read  unto  them,  say,  We  believe  therein  ;  it  is  certainly 
the  truth  from  our  LORD:  verily  we  were  Moslems  before 
this.  These  shall  receive  their  reward  twice,  because  they 
have  persevered,  and  repel  evil  by  good,  and  distribute 
alms  out  of  that  which  we  have  bestowed  on  them ;  and 
when  they  hear  vain  discourse,  avoid  the  same,  saying,  We 
have  our  works,  and  ye  have  your  works  ;  peace  be  on  you  ; 
we  covet  not  the  acquaintance  of  the  ignorant.  Verily  thou 
canst  not  direct  whom  thon  wilt :  but  GOD  directeth  whom 
he  pleaseth ;  and  he  best  knoweth  those  who  will  submit  to 


AL  KORAN.  311 

6e  directed.  The  Meccans  say,  If  we  follow  the  game  di 
rection  with  thee,  we  shall  be  forcibly  expelled  our  land. 
Have  we  not  established  for  them  a  secure  asylum,  to 
which  fruits  of  every  sort  are  brought,  as  a  provision  for 
our  bounty  ?  but  the  greater  part  of  them  do  not  under- 
stand. How  many  cities  have  we  destroyed,  whose  in- 
habitants lived  in  ease  and  plenty?  and  these  their  dwell- 
ings are  not  inhabited  after  them,  unless  for  a  little  while ; 
and  we  were  the  inheritors  of  their  wealth.  But  thy  LORD 
did  not  destroy  those  cities,  until  he  had  sent  unto  their 
capital  an  apostle,  to  rehearse  our  signs  unto  them :  neither 
did  we  destroy  those  cities,  unless  their  inhabitants  were  in 
jurious  to  their  apostle.  The  things  which  are  given  you  are 
the  provisions  of  this  present  life,  and  the  pomp  thereof;  but 
that  which  is  with  GOD  is  better  and  more  durable :  will  ye 
not  therefore  understand  ?  Shall  he  then,  unto  whom  we 
have  promised  an  excellent  promise  of  future  happiness, 
and  who  shall  attain  the  same,  be  as  he  on  whom  we  have 
bestowed  the  provision  of  this  present  life,  and  who,  on  the 
day  of  resurrection,  shall  be  one  of  those  who  are  delivered 
up  to  eternal  punishment  ?  On  that  day  God  shall  call  unto 
them,  and  shall  say,  Where  are  my  partners,  which  ye  imag- 
ined to  be  so?  And  they  upon  whom  the  sentence  of  damna- 
tion shall  be  justly  pronounced  shall  answer,  These,  O  LORD, 
are  those  whom  we  seduced ;  we  seduced  them  as  we  also 
had  been  seduced :  but  now  we  clearly  quit  them,  and  turn 
unto  thee.  They  did  not  worship  us,  but  their  own  lusts. 
And  it  shall  be  said  unto  the  idolaters,  Call  now  upon  those 
whom  ye  associated  with  God:  and  they  shall  call  upon 
them,  but  they  shall  not  answer  them ;  and  they  shall  see 
the  punishment  prepared  for  them,  and  shall  wish  that  they 
had  submitted  to  be  directed.  On  that  day,  God  shall  call 
unto  them,  and  shall  say,  What  answer  did  ye  return  to  our 
messengers  ?  But  they  shall  not  be  able  to  give  an  account 
thereof  on  that  day ;  neither  shall  they  ask  one  another  for 
information.  Howbeit  whoso  shall  repent  and  believe,  and 
shall  do  that  which  is  right,  may  expect  to  be  happy.  Thy 
LORD  createth  what  he  pleaseth ;  and  chooseth  freely :  but 
they  have  no  free  choice.  Praise  be  unto  GOD  ;  and  far  be 
fae  removed  from  the  idols  which  they  associate  with  him/ 
Thy  LORD  knoweth  both  the  secret  malice  which  their  breasts 
•pnceal,  and  the  open  hatred  which  they  discover.  He  if 


812  AL  KORAN. 

Qoi> ;  there  is  no  GOD  but  he.  Unto  him  it  the  praise  rf««, 
both  in  this  life  and  in  that  which  is  to  come :  nnto  him  dkth 
judgment  belong ;  and  before  him  shall  ye  be  assembled  oi 
the  last  day.  Say,  What  think  ye  ?  If  GOD  should  cover 
you  with  perpetual  night,  until  the  day  of  resurrection; 
what  god,  besides  GOD,  would  bring  you  light?  Will  ye 
not  therefore  hearken?  Say,  What  think  ye?  If  GOD 
should  give  you  continual  day,  until  the  day  of  resurrec- 
tion ;  what  god,  besides  GOD,  would  bring  you  night,  that 
ye  might  rest  therein  ?  Will  ye  not  therefore  consider  ? 
Of  his  mercy  he  hath  made  for  you  the  night  and  the  day, 
that  ye  may  rest  in  the  one,  and  may  seek  to  obtain  provis- 
ion for  yourselves  of  his  abundance,  by  your  industry,  in  the 
other  ;  and  that  ye  may  give  thanks.  On  a  certain  day  God 
ahall  call  unto  them,  and  shall  say,  Where  are  my  partners, 
which  ye  imagined  to  share  the  divine  power  with  me  ?  And 
we  will  produce  a  witness  out  of  every  nation,  and  will  say, 
Bring  hither  your  proof  of  what  ye  have  asserted.  And  they 
shall  know  that  the  right  is  GOD'S  alone  ;  and  the  deities 
which  they  have  devised  shall  abandon  them.  Karun  waa 
of  the  people  of  Moses ;  but  he  behaved  insolently  towards 
them  :  for  we  had  given  him  so  much  treasure,  that  his  keys 
would  have  loaded  several  strong  men.1  When  his  people  said 
unto  him,  Rejoice  not  immoderately  ;  for  GOD  loveth  not  those 
who  rejoice  in  their  riches  immoderately :  but  seek  to  attain 
by  means  of  the  wealth  which  GOD  hath  given  thee,  the  future 
mansion  of  paradise.  And  forget  not  thy  portion  in  this  world  ; 
but  be  thou  bounteous  unto  others,  as  GOD  hath  been  boun- 
teous unto  thee  ;  and  seek  not  to  act  corruptly  in  the  earth; 
for  GOD  loveth  not  the  corrupt  doers.  He  answered,  I  have 
received  these  riches,  only  because  of  the  knowledge  which  is 
with  me.  Did  he  not  know  that  GOD  had  already  destroyed, 
before  him,  several  generations,  who  were  mightier  than  he 
in  strength,  and  had  amassed  more  abundance  of  riches  ? 
And  the  wicked  shall  not  be  asked  to  discover  their  crimes. 
And  Karun  went  forth  unto  his  people,  in  his  pomp.  And 
they  who  loved  this  present  life  said,  Oh  that  we  had  the 
like  wealth,  as  hath  been  given  unto  Karun  ?  verily  he  is 
master  of  a  great  fortune.  But  those  on  whom  knowledge 
had  been  bestowed  answered,  Alas  for  you !  the  reward  of 
GOD  in  the  next  life  will  be  better  unto  him  who  shall  believe 
Mid  <io  good  works  :  but  none  shall  attain  the  same,  except 


AL  KORAN.  813 

those  who  persevere  with  constancy.  And  we  caused  the 
ground  to  cleave  in  sunder,  and  to  swallow  up  him  and  his 
palace :  and  he  had  no  forces  to  defend  him,  besides  GOD  ; 
neither  was  he  rescued  from  punishment.  And  the  next 
morning,  those  who  had  coveted  his  condition  the  day  be- 
fore said,  Aha!  verily  GOD  bestoweth  abundant  provision 
on  such  of  his  servants  as  he  pleaseth ;  and  he  is  sparing 
unto  whom  he  pleaseth.  Unless  GOD  had  been  gracious 
unto  us,  certainly  the  earth  had  swallowed  us  up  also. 
Aha!  the  unbelievers  shall  not  prosper.  As  to  this  future 
mansion  of  paradise,  we  will  give  it  unto  them  who  seek 
not  to  exalt  themselves  in  the  earth,  or  to  do  wrong ;  for  the 
kappy  issue  shall  attend  the  pious.  Whoso  doth  good  shall 
receive  a  reward  which  shall  exceed  the  merit  thereof:  but 
at  to  him  who  doth  evil,  they  who  work  evil  shall  be  re- 
warded according  to  the  merit  only  of  that  which  they  shall 
have  wrought.  Verily  he  who  hath  given  thee  the  Koran 
for  a  rule  of  faith  and  practice  will  certainly  bring  thee 
back  home  unto  Mecca.  Say,  My  LORD  best  knoweth  who 
cometh  with  a  true  direction,  and  who  is  in  a  manifest  error. 
Thou  didst  not  expect  that  the  book  of  the  Koran  should  be 
delivered  unto  thee :  but  thou  hast  received  it  through  the 
mercy  of  thy  LORD.  Be  not  therefore  assisting  to  the  un- 
believers ;  neither  let  them  turn  thee  aside  from  the  signs 
of  GOD,  after  they  have  been  sent  down  unto  thee:  and 
invite  men  unto  thy  LORD.  And  be  not  thou  an  idolater ; 
neither  invoke  any  other  god,  together  with  the  true  GOD  : 
there  is  no  god  but  he.  Everything  shall  perish,  except  him 
self:  unto  him  belongeth  judgment :  and  before  him  shall  ye 
be  assembled  at  the  last  day. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

IMTITLKD,   THE    SPIDER;    REYEALED    AT    MECCA. 

IB    THB    NAME    Of    THE    MOST    MERCIFUL    OOD. 

A.  L.  M.     Do  men  imagine  that  it  shall  be  sufficient  for 
them  to  say,  We  believe ;  will  they  not  be  proved  ?     W« 


814  AL  KORAN. 

heretofore  proved  those  who  were  before  them  ;  for  GOD 
will  surely  know  them  who  are  sincere,  and  he  will  surely 
know  the  liars.  Do  they  who  work  evil  think  that  they 
shall  prevent  us  from  taking  vengeance  on  them*  An  ill 
judgment  do  they  make.  Whoso  hopeth  to  meet  GOD, 
verily  GOD'S  appointed  time  will  certainly  come;  and  h« 
both  heareth  and  knoweth.  Whoever  striveth  to  promote  the 
true  religion,  striveth  for  the  advantage  of  his  own  soul ;  for 
GOD  needeth  not  any  of  his  creatures :  and  as  to  those  who 
believe  and  work  righteousness,  we  will  expiate  their  evil 
deeds  from  them  ;  and  we  will  give  them  a  reward  according 
to  the  utmost  merit  of  their  actions.  We  have  commanded 
man  to  show  kindness  towards  his  parents :  but  if  they  en- 
deavor to  prevail  with  thee  to  associate  with  me  that  con- 
cerning which  thou  hast  no  knowledge,  obey  them  not.  Unto 
me  shall  ye  return ;  and  I  will  declare  unto  you  what  ye 
have  done.  Those  who  shall  believe,  and  shall  work  right- 
eousness, we  will  surely  introduce  into  paradise,  among  the 
upright.  There  are  some  men  who  say,  We  believe  in  GOD  : 
but  when  such  a  one  is  afflicted  for  GOD'S  sake,  he  esteemeth 
the  persecution  of  men  to  be  as  grievous  as  the  punishment 
of  GOD.  Yet  if  success  cometh  from  thy  LORD,  they  say, 
Verily  we  are  with  you.  Doth  not  GOD  well  know  that 
which  is  in  the  breasts  of  his  creatures  ?  Verily  GOD  well 
knoweth  the  true  believers,  and  he  well  knoweth  the  hypo- 
crites. The  unbelievers  say  unto  those  who  believe,  Follow 
our  way,  and  we  will  bear  your  sins.  Howbeit  they  shall 
not  bear  any  part  of  their  sins  ;  for  they  are  liars :  but  they 
shall  surely  bear  their  own  burdens,  and  other  burdens  be- 
sides their  own  burdens ;  and  they  shall  be  examined,  on 
the  day  of  resurrection,  concerning  that  which  they  have 
falsely  devised.  We  heretofore  sent  Noah  unto  his  people  ; 
and  he  tarried  among  them  one  thousand  years,  save  fifty 
years :  and  the  deluge  took  them  away,  while  they  were  act- 
ing unjustly ;  but  we  delivered  him  and  those  who  were  in 
the  ark,  and  we  made  the  same  a  sign  unto  aU  creatures. 
We  also  sent  Abraham ;  when  he  said  unto  his  people,  Serve- 
Goo,  and  fear  him  ;  this  will  be  better  for  you  ;  if  ye  undei- 
etand.  Ye  only  worship  idols  besides  GOD,  and  forge  a  lie. 
Verily  those  which  ye  worship,  besides  GOD,  are  not  able  to 
make  any  provision  for  you :  seek  therefore  your  provision 
from  GOD  ;  and  serve  him,  and  give  thanks  unto  him ;  out* 


AL   KORAN.  315 

him  shall  ye  return.  If  ye  charge  me  with  imposture,  verily 
tvndry  nations  before  you  likewise  charged  their  prophet* 
with  imposture :  but  public  preaching  only  is  incumbent  on 
an  apostle.  Do  they  not  see  how  GOD  produceth  creature?, 
and  afterwards  restoreth  them?  Verily  this  is  easy  with 
Gob.  Say,  go  through  the  earth,  and  see  how  he  originally 
produceth  creatures :  afterwards  will  GOD  reproduce  another 
reduction  ;  for  GOD  is  almighty.  He  will  punish  whom  he 

S'easeth,  and  he  will  have  mercy  on  whom  he  pleaseth. 
efore  him  shall  ye  be  brought  at  the  day  of  judgment:  and 
ye  shall  not  escape  his  reach,  either  in  earth,  or  in  heaven : 
neither  shall  ye  have  any  patron  or  defender  besides  GOD. 
As  for  those  who  believe  not  in  the  signs  of  GOD,  or  that 
they  shall  meet  him  at  the  resurrection,  they  shall  despair  of 
my  mercy,  and  for  them  is  a  painful  punishment  prepared. 
And  the  answer  of  his  people  was  no  other  than  that  they 
said,  Slay  him,  or  burn  him.  But  GOD  saved  him  from  the 
fire.  Verily  herein  were  signs  unto  people  who  believed. 
And  Abraham  said,  Ye  have  taken  idols,  besides  GOD,  to 
cement  affection  between  you  in  this  life  :  but  on  the  day  of 
resurrection,  the  one  of  you  shall  deny  the  other,  and  the 
one  of  you  shall  curse  the  other ;  and  your  abode  shall  be 
hell  fire,  and  there  shall  be  none  to  deliver  you.  And  Lot 
believed  on  him.  And  Abraham  said,  Verily  I  fl y  from  my 
people,  unto  the  place  which  my  LORD  hath  commanded  me ; 
"or  he  is  the  mighty,  the  wise.  And  we  gave  him  Isaac  and 
Jacob ;  and  we  placed  among  his  descendants  the  gift  of 
prophecy  and  the  scriptures  :  and  we  gave  him  his  reward 
in  this  world ;  and  in  the  next  he  shall  be  one  of  the  right- 
eous. We  also  sent  Lot ;  when  he  said  unto  his  people,  Do 
ye  commit  filthiness  which  no  creature  hath  committed  before 
you  ?  Do  ye  approach  lustfully  unto  men,  and  lay  wait  in 
the  highways,  and  commit  wickedness  in  your  assembly  ? 
And  the  answer  of  his  people  was  no  other  than  that  they 
said,  Bring  down  the  vengeance  of  GOD  upon  us,  if  thou 
ppeakest  truth.  Lot  said,  O  LORD,  defend  me  against  the 
corrupt  people.  And  when  our  messengers  came  unto  Abra- 
ham with  good  tidings,  they  said,  We  will  surely  destroy  the 
inhabitants  of  this  city :  for  the  inhabitants  thereof  are  unjust 
doers.  Abraham  answered,  Verily  Lot  dweUeth  there.  They 
replied,  We  well  know  who  dwetteth  therein :  we  will  surely 
Oliver  him  and  his  family,  except  his  wife ;  she  shall  be  on* 


816  AL  KORAN. 

of  those  who  remain  behind.  And  when  our  messengen 
came  unto  Lot,  he  was  troubled  for  them,  and  his  arm  was 
straitened  concerning  them.  But  they  said,  Fear  not,  neither 
be  grieved ;  for  we  will  deliver  thee  and  thy  family,  except 
hy  wife;  for  she  shall  be  one  of  those  who  remain  behind. 
We  will  surely  bring  down  upon  the  inhabitants  of  this  city 
vengeance  from  heaven,  for  that  they  have  been  wicked 
doers ;  and  we  have  left  thereof  a  manifest  sign  unto  people 
who  understand.  And  unto  the  inhabitants  of  Madian  we 
tent  their  brother  Shoaib ;  and  he  said  unto  them,  0  my 
people,  serve  GOD,  and  expect  the  last  day ;  and  transgress 
not,  acting  corruptly  in  the  earth.  But  they  accused  him  of 
imposture ;  wherefore  a  storm  from  heaven  assailed  them, 
and  in  the  morning  they  were  found  in  their  dwellings  dead 
and  prostrate.  And  we  also  destroyed  the  tribes  of  Ad,  and 
Thamud ;  and  this  is  well  known  unto  you  from  what  yet  re- 
mains of  their  dwellings.  And  Satan  prepared  their  works 
for  them,  and  turned  them  aside  from  the  way  of  truth,  al- 
though they  were  sagacious  people.  And  we  likewise  de- 
stroyed Karun,  and  Pharaoh,  and  Haman.  Moses  came  unto 
them  with  evident  miracles,  and  they  behaved  themselves 
insolently  in  the  earth :  but  they  could  not  escape  our  ven- 
geance. Every  of  them  did  we  destroy  in  his  sin.  Against 
some  of  them  we  sent  a  violent  wind :  some  of  them  did  a 
terrible  noise  from  heaven  destroy:  some  of  them  did  we 
cause  the  earth  to  swallow  up :  and  some  of  them  we  drowned. 
Neither  was  GOD  disposed  to  treat  them  unjustly ;  but  they 
dealt  unjustly  with  their  own  souls.  The  likeness  of  those 
who  take  other  patrons  besides  GOD  is  as  the  likeness  of  the 
spider,  which  maketh  herself  a  house :  but  the  weakest  of  att 
houses  surely  is  the  house  of  the  spider ;  if  they  knew  this. 
Moreover  GOD  knoweth  what  things  they  invoke,  besides 
him  ;  and  he  is  the  mighty,  the  wise.  These  similitudes  do 
we  propound  unto  men :  but  none  understand  them,  except 
the  wise.  GOD  hath  created  the  heavens  and  the  earth  in 
truth ;  verily  herein  is  a  sign  unto  the  true  believers.  Re- 
hearse that  which  hath  been  revealed  unto  thee  of  the  book 
of  the  Koran :  and  be  constant  at  prayer ;  for  prayer  pre- 
eerveth  a  man  from  filthy  crimes,  and  from  that  which  is 
blamable;  and  the  remembering  of  GOD  is  surely  a  most 
important  duty.  GOD  knoweth  that  which  ye  do.  Dispute 
not  against  those  who  have  received  the  scriptures,  unless  in 


AL  KORAJT.  31? 

the  mildest  manner  except  against  such  of  them  as  behave 
injuriously  towards  you :  and  say,  We  believe  in  the  revela- 
tion which  hath  been  sent  down  unto  us,  and  also  in  that  which 
hath  been  sent  down  unto  you ;  our  GOD  and  your  GOD  is 
one,  and  unto  him  are  we  resigned.  Thus  have  we  sent  down 
the  book  of  the  Koran  unto  thee :  and  they  unto  whom  we 
hare  given  the  former  scriptures  believe  therein ;  and  of 
these  Arabians  also  there  is  who  believeth  therein :  and  none 
reject  our  signs,  except  the  obstinate  infidels.  Thou  couldest 
not  read  any  book  before  this ;  neither  couldest  thou  write  it 
with  thy  right  hand  :  then  had  the  gainsayers  justly  doubted 
ofthf  divine  original  thereof.  But  the  same  is  evident  signs 
in  the  breasts  of  those  who  have  received  understanding :  for 
none  reject  our  signs  except  the  unjust.  They  say,  Unless  a 
sign  be  sent  down  unto  him  from  his  LORD,  we  will  not  be- 
lieve. Answer,  Signs  are  in  the  power  of  GOD  alone ;  and  I 
am  no  more  than  a  public  preacher.  Is  it  not  sufficient  for 
them  that  we  have  sent  down  unto  thee  the  book  of  the  Koran, 
to  be  read  unto  them  ?  Verily  herein  is  a  mercy,  and  an 
admonition  unto  people  who  believe.  Say  GOD  is  a  suffi- 
cient witness  between  me  and  you :  he  knoweth  whatever  is 
in  heaven  and  earth;  and  those  who  believe  in  vain  idols, 
and  deny  GOD,  they  shall  perish.  They  will  urge  thee  to 
hasten  the  punishment  which  they  defy  thee  to  bring  down  upon 
them  :  if  there  had  not  been  a  determined  time  for  their  respite, 
the  punishment  had  come  upon  them  before  this  ;  but  it  shall 
surely  overtake  them  suddenly,  and  they  shall  not  foresee  it. 
They  urge  thee  to  bring  down  vengeance  swiftly  upon  them  : 
but  hell  shall  surely  encompass  the  unbelievers.  On  a  cer 
tain  day  their  punishment  shall  suddenly  assail  them,  both 
from  above  them,  and  from  under  their  feet ;  and  God  shall 
say,  Taste  ye  the  reward  of  that  which  ye  have  wrought.  O 
my  servants  who  have  believed,  verily  my  earth  is  spacious : 
wherefore  serve  me.  Every  soul  shall  taste  death :  after- 
wards shall  ye  return  unto  us  ;  and  as  for  those  who  shall 
have  believed,  and  wrought  righteousness,  we  will  surely 
lodge  them  in  the  higher  apartments  of  paradise ;  rivers  shall 
3ow  beneath  them,  and  they  shall  continue  therein  forever 
How  excellent  will  be  the  reward  of  the  workers  of  righteous- 
nest;  who  persevere  with  patience,  and  put  their  trust  in 
cheir  LORD  !  How  many  beasts  are  there,  which  provide  not 
their  food  ?  It  is  GOD  who  provideth  for  them,  and  for  you ; 


518  AL  KOBAN. 

tnd  he  both  heanetb  and  knoweth.  Verily,  if  thou  ask  tht 
Meccans,  who  hath  created  the  heavens  and  the  earth,  and 
hath  obliged  the  sun  and  the  moon  to  serve  in  their  courses  t 
they  will  answer,  GOD.  How  therefore  do  they  lie,  in  ac- 
knowledging of  other  godsf  GOD  maketh  abundant  provision 
for  such  of  his  servants  as  he  pleaseth ;  and  is  sparing  unto 
him,  if  he  pleaseth :  for  GOD  knoweth  all  things.  Verily  if 
thou  ask  them,  who  sendeth  rain  from  heaven,  and  thereby 
^uickeneth  the  earth,  after  it  hath  been  dead?  they  will 
answer,  GOD.  Say,  GOD  be  praised !  But  the  greater  part 
of  them  do  not  understand.  This  present  life  is  no  othei 
that  a  toy,  and  a  plaything;  but  the  future  mansion  of  para- 
dise is  life  indeed :  if  they  knew  this  they  would  not  prefer 
the  former  to  the  latter.  When  they  sail  in  a  ship,  they  call 
upon  GOD,  sincerely  exhibiting  unto  him  the  true  religion: 
but  when  he  bringeth  them  safe  to  land,  behold,  they  return 
to  their  idolatry ;  to  show  themselves  ungrateful  for  that 
which  we  have  bestowed  on  them,  and  that  they  may  enjoy 
the  delights  of  this  life ;  but  they  shall  hereafter  know  the 
issue.  Do  they  not  see  that  we  have  made  the  territory  of 
Mecca  an  inviolable  and  secure  asylum,  when  men  are  spoiled 
in  the  countries  round  about  them  ?  Do  they  therefore  be- 
lieve in  that  which  is  vain,  and  acknowledge  not  the  good- 
ness of  GOD  ?  But  who  is  more  unjust  than  he  who  deviseth 
a  lie  against  GOD,  or  denieth  the  truth,  when  it  hath  come 
unto  him  ?  Is  there  not  in  hell  an  abode  for  the  unbelievers  ? 
Whoever  do  their  utmost  endeavor  to  promote  our  true  re- 
ligion, we  will  direct  them  into  our  ways ;  for  GOD  is  with 
the  righteous. 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

,  THE  GREEKS  ;  BEVEALED  AT  HKGOA. 

IH    THE     NAME    OF    THE    MOST    MEHCIFUL    GOD. 

^  A.  L.  M.  THE  Greeks  have  been  overcome  by  the  Ptr- 
tians  ii  the  nearest  part  of  the  land ;  but  after  their  defeat, 
they  shall  overcome  the  others  in  their  turn,  within  a  few 


AL    ROHAN.  319 

years.  Unto  GOD  belongeth  the  disposal  of  this  matter,  both 
for  what  is  past,  and  for  what  is  to  come :  and  on  that  day 
shall  the  believers  rejoice  in  the  success  granted  by  GOD ; 
for  he  granteth  success  unto  whom  he  pleaseth,  and  he  is  the 
mighty,  the  merciful.  This  is  the  promise  of  GOD  :  GOD 
will  not  act  contrary  to  his  promise :  but  the  greater  part  of 
men  know  not  the  veracity  of  God.  They  know  the  out- 
ward appearance  of  this  present  life;  but  they  are  careless 
as  to  the  life  to  come.  Do  they  not  consider  within  them- 
selves that  GOD  hath  not  created  the  heavens  and  the  earth, 
and  whatever  is  between  them,  otherwise  than  in  truth,  and 
hath  set  them  a  determined  period?  Verily  a  great  number 
of  men  reject  the  belief  of  their  future  meeting  their  LORD 
at  the  resurrection.  Do  they  not  pass  through  the  earth,  and 
see  what  hath  been  the  end  of  those  who  were  before  them  ? 
They  excelled  the  Meccans  in  strength,  and  broke  up  the 
earth,  and  inhabited  it  in  greater  affluence  and  prosperity 
than  they  inhabit  the  same :  and  their  apostles  came  unto 
them  with  evident  miracles;  and  GOD  was  not  disposed  to 
treat  them  unjustly,  but  they  injured  their  own  souls  by  their 
obstinate  infidelity  ;  and  the  end  of  those  who  had  done  evil 
was  evil,  because  they  charged  the  signs  of  GOD  with  false- 
hood, and  laughed  the  same  to  scorn.  God  produceth  crea- 
tures, and  will  hereafter  restore  them  to  life :  then  shall  ye 
return  unto  him.  And  on  the  day  whereon  the  hour  shall 
come,  the  wicked  shall  be  struck  dumb  for  despair;  and  they 
shall  have  no  intercessors  from  among  the  idols  which  they 
associated  with  God.  And  they  shall  deny  the  false  gods 
which  they  associated  with  him.  On  the  day  whereon  the 
hour  shall  come,  on  that  day  shall  the  true  believers  and  the 
infidels  be  separated  :  and  they  who  shall  have  believed,  and 
wrought  righteousness,  shall  take  their  pleasure  in  a  delight- 
ful meadow  ;  but  as  for  those  who  shall  have  disbelieved,  and 
rejected  our  signs,  and  the  meeting  of  the  next  life,  they  shall 
be  delivered  up  to  punishment.  Wherefore  glorify  GOD, 
when  the  evening  overtaketh  you,  and  when  ye  rise  in  the 
morning:  and  unto  him  be  praise  in  heaven  and  earth  ;  and 
at  sunset,  and  when  ye  rest  at  noon.  He  bringeth  forth  the 
living  out  of  the  dead,  and  he  bringeth  forth  the  dead  out  of 
the  living;  and  he  quickeneth  the  earth  after  it  hath  been 
dead:  and  in  like  manner  shall  ye  be  brought  forth  from 
your  graves.  Of  his  signs  one  is,  that  he  hath  created  you 


020  AL  KORAN. 

df  dust ;  and  behold,  ye  are  become  men,  spread  over  the  fact 
of  the  earth.  And  of  his  signs  another  is,  that  he  hath  crea- 
ted you,  out  of  yourselves,  wives,  that  ye  may  cohabit  with 
them ;  and  hath  put  love  and  compassion  between  you :  verily 
herein  are  signs  unto  people  who  consider.  And  of  his  signs 
are  also  the  creation  of  the  heavens  and  the  earth,  and  the 
variety  of  your  languages,  and  of  your  complexions :  verily 
herein  are  signs  unto  men  of  understanding.  And  of  his 
signs  are  your  sleeping  by  night  and  by  day,  and  your  seek- 
ing to  provide  for  yourselves  of  his  abundance:  verily  herein 
are  signs  unto  people  who  hearken.  Of  his  signs  others  are, 
that  he  showeth  you  the  lightning,  to  strike  terror,  and  to  give 
hope  of  rain,  and  that  he  sendeth  down  water  from  heaven, 
and  quickeneth  thereby  the  earth,  after  it  hath  been  dead ; 
verily  herein  are  signs  unto  people  who  understand.  And 
of  his  signs  this  also  is  one,  namely,  that  the  heaven  and  the 
earth  stand  firm  at  command :  hereafter,  when  he  shall  call 
you  out  of  the  earth  at  one  summons,  behold,  ye  shall  come 
forth.  Unto  him  are  subject  whosoever  are  in  the  heavens 
and  on  earth :  all  are  obedient  unto  him.  It  is  he  who  orig- 
inally produceth  a  creature,  and  afterwards  restoreth  the 
same  to  life:  and  this  is  most  easy  with  him.  He  justly 
challengeth  the  most  exalted  comparison,  in.  heaven  and 
earth ;  and  he  is  the  mighty,  the  wise.  He  propoundeth 
unto  a  comparison  taken  from  yourselves.  Have  ye,  among 
the  slaves  whom  your  right  hands  possess,  any  partner  in  the 
substance  which  we  have  bestowed  on  you,  so  that  ye  become 
equal  sharers  therein  with  them,  or  that  ye  fear  them  as  ye 
fear  one  another?  Thus  we  distinctly  explain  our  signs,  unto 
people  who  understand.  But  those  who  act  unjustly,  by  at- 
tributing companions  unto  God,  follow  their  own  lusts,  with- 
out knowledge :  and  who  shall  direct  him  whom  GOD  shall 
cause  to  err  ?  They  shall  have  none  to  help  them.  Where- 
fore be  thou  orthodox,  and  set  thy  face  towards  the  true 
religion,  the  institution  of  GOD,  to  which  he  hath  created 
mankind  disposed :  there  is  no  change  in  what  GOD  hath 
created.  This  is  the  right  religion  ;  but  the  greater  part  of 
men  know  it  not.  And  be  ye  turned  unto  him,  and  fear  him, 
and  be  constant  at  prayer,  and  be  not  idolaters.  Of  those 
who  have  made  a  schism  in  their  religion,  and  are  divided 
'into  various  sects,  every  sect  rejoice  in  their  own  opinion. 
When  adversity  befalleth  men,  they  call  upon  their  LORD, 


AL  KORAN.  321 

turning  unto  him :  afterwards,  when  he  hath  caused  them  to 
taste  of  his  mercy,  behold,  a  part  of  them  associate  other  dei- 
ties with  their  LORD  :  to  show  themselves  ungrateful  for  the 
favors  which  we  have  bestowed  on  them.  Enjoy  therefore 
the  vain  pleasures  of  this  life ;  but  hereafter  shall  ye  know 
the  consequence.  Have  we  sent  down  unto  them  any  author- 
ity, which  speaketh  of  the  false  gods  which  they  associate 
with  him  ?  When  we  cause  men  to  taste  mercy,  they  rejoice 
therein ;  but  if  evil  befalleth  them,  for  that  which  their  hands 
have  before  committed,  behold,  they  despair.  Do  they  not 
see  that  GOD  bestoweth  provision  abundantly  on  whom  he 
pleaseth,  and  is  sparing  unto  whom  he  pleaseth  ?  Verily  here- 
in are  signs  unto  people  who  believe.  Give  unto  him  who  is 
of  kin  to  thee  his  reasonable  due ;  and  also  to  the  poor,  and 
the  stranger :  this  is  better  for  those  who  seek  the  face  of 
GOD  ;  and  they  shall  prosper.  Whatever  ye  shall  give  in 
usury,  to  be  an  increase  of  men's  substance,  shall  not  be  in- 
creased by  the  blessing  of  GOD  :  but  whatever  ye  shall  give 
hi  alms,  for  GOD'S  sake,  they  shall  receive  a  twofold  reward. 
It  is  GOD  who  hath  created  you,  and  hath  provided  food  for 
you :  hereafter  will  he  cause  you  to  die ;  and  after  that  will 
he  raise  you  again  to  life.  Is  there  any  of  your  false  gods, 
who  is  able  to  do  the  least  of  these  things  ?  Praise  be  unto 
him ;  and  far  be  he  removed  from  what  they  associate  with 
him  !  Corruption  hath  appeared  by  land  and  by  sea,  for  the 
crimes  which  men's  hands  have  committed;  that  it  might 
make  them  to  taste  a  part  of  the  fruits  of  that  which  they 
have  wrought,  that  peradventure  they  might  turn  from  their 
evil  ways.  Say,  Go  through  the  earth,  and  see  what  hath 
been  the  end  of  those  who  have  been  before  you:  the  greater 
part  of  them  were  idolaters.  Set  thy  face  therefore  towards 
the  right  religion,  before  the  day  cometh,  which  none  can  put 
back  from  GOD.  On  that  day  shall  they  be  separated  into 
two  companies :  whoever  shall  have  been  an  unbeliever,  on 
him  shall  his  unbelief  be  charged ;  and  whoever  shall  have 
done  that  which  is  right,  shall  spread  themselves  couches  of 
repose  in  paradise ;  that  he  may  reward  those  who  shall  be- 
lieve, and  work  righteousness,  of  his  abundant  liberality ;  for 
he  loveth  not  the  unbelievers.  Of  his  signs  one  is,  that  he 
gendeth  the  winds,  bearing  welcome  tidings  of  rain,  that  he 
may  cause  you  to  taste  of  his  mercy ;  and  that  ships  maj 
•ail  at  his  command,  that  ye  may  seek  to  enrich  yourselves  of 
SI 


322  AL  KORAN. 

bis  abundance  by  commerce ;  and  that  ye  may  give  thanks. 
We  sent  apostles,  before  thee,  unto  their  respective  people, 
and  they  came  unto  them  with  evident  proofs :  and  we  took 
vengeance  on  those  who  did  wickedly ;  and  it  was  incumbent 
on  us  to  assist  the  true  believers.  It  is  GOD  who  sendeth 
the  winds,  and  raiseth  the  clouds,  and  spreadeth  the  same  in 
the  heaven,  as  he  pleaseth ;  and  afterwards  disperseth  the 
same :  and  thou  mayest  see  the  rain  issuing  from  the  midst 
thereof;  and  when  he  poureth  the  same  down  on  such  of  his 
servants  as  he  pleaseth,  behold,  they  are  filled  with  joy ;  al- 
though before  it  was  sent  down  unto  them,  before  such  relief, 
they  were  despairing.  Consider  therefore  the  traces  of 
GOD'S  mercy ;  how  he  quickeneth  the  earth,  after  its  state 
of  death :  verily  the  same  will  raise  the  dead ;  for  he  is  al- 
mighty. Yet  if  we  should  send  a  blasting  wind,  and  they 
should  see  their  corn  yellow  and  burnt  up,  they  .would  surely 
become  ungrateful,  after  our  former  favors.  Thou  canst  not 
make  the  dead  to  hear,  neither  canst  thou  make  the  deaf  to 
hear  thy  call,  when  they  retire  and  turn  their  backs ;  neither 
canst  thou  direct  the  blind  out  of  their  error :  thou  shalt 
make  none  to  hear,  except  him  who  shall  believe  in  our 
signs ;  for  they  are  resigned  unto  us.  It  is  GOD  who  created 
you  in  weakness,  and  after  weakness  hath  given  you  strength ; 
and  after  strength,  he  will  again  reduce  you  to  weakness,  and 
gray  hairs :  he  createth  that  which  he  pleaseth ;  and  he  is 
the  wise,  the  powerful.  On  the  day  whereon  the  last  hour 
shall  come,  the  wicked  will  swear  that  they  have  not  tarried 
above  an  hour :  in  like  manner  did  they  utter  lies  in  their 
lifetime.  But  those  on  whom  knowledge  hath  been  bestowed, 
and  faith,  will  say,  Ye  have  tarried,  according  to  the  book  of 
GOD,  until  the  day  of  resurrection ;  for  this  is  the  day  of 
resurrection  ;  but  ye  knew  it  not.  On  that  day  their  excuse 
shall  not  avail  those  who  have  acted  unjustly ;  neither  shall 
they  be  invited  any  more  to  make  themselves  acceptable  unto 
God.  And  now  have  we  propounded  unto  men,  in  this  Ko- 
ran, parables  of  every  kind :  yet  if  thou  bring  them  a  verse 
thereof,  the  unbelievers  will  surely  say,  Ye  are  no  other  than 
publishers  of  vain  falsehoods.  Thus  hath  GOD  sealed  up 
the  hearts  of  those  who  believe  not :  But  do  thou,  O  Mo- 
hammed, persevere  with  constancy,  for  GOD  is  true  ;  and  let 
not  those  induce  thee  to  waver,  who  have  no  certain  knowl- 
edge. 


AL   KORAM. 


CHAPTER 

DfTITLED,  LOKHAN  ;    BKVEALED   AT   MECCA. 
IN    THE    NAME    Of   THB   MOST    MERCIFUL   GOD. 

A.  L.  M.  THESE  are  the  signs  of  the  wise  book,  a  direc- 
tion, and  a  mercy  unto  the  righteous  ;  who  observe  the 
appointed  times  of  prayer,  and  give  alms,  and  have  firm 
assurance  in  the  life  to  come  :  these  are  directed  by  their 
LORD,  and  they  shall  prosper.  There  is  a  man  who  pur- 
chaseth  a  ludicrous  story,  that  he  may  seduce  men  from  the 
way  of  GOD,  without  knowledge,  and  may  laugh  the  same  to 
scorn  :  these  shall  suffer  a  shameful  punishment.  And  when 
our  signs  are  rehearsed  unto  him,  he  disdainfully  turneth  his 
back  as  though  he  heard  them  not,  as  though  there  were  a 
deafness  in  his  ears  :  wherefore  denounce  unto  him  a  griev- 
ous punishment.  But  they  who  shall  believe  and  work 
righteousness,  shall  enjoy  gardens  of  pleasure  :  they  shall 
continue  therein  forever  :  this  is  the  certain  promise  of  GOD  ; 
and  he  is  the  mighty,  the  wise.  He  hath  created  the  heavens 
without  visible  pillars  to  sustain  them,  and  thrown  on  the 
earth  mountains  firmly  rooted,  lest  it  should  move  with  you  ; 
and  he  hath  replenished  the  same  with  all  kinds  of  beasts  : 
and  we  send  down  rain  from  heaven,  and  cause  every  kind 
of  noble  vegetable  to  spring  forth  therein.  This  is  the  crea- 
tion of  GOD  :  show  me  now  what  they  have  created,  who 
are  worshipped  besides  him  ?  verily  the  ungodly  are  in  a 
manifest  error.  We  heretofore  bestowed  wisdom  on  Lok- 
man,  and  commanded  him,  saying,  Be  thou  thankful  unto 
GOD  :  for  whoever  is  thankful,  shall  be  thankful  to  the  ad- 
vantage of  his  own  soul  ;  and  if  any  shall  be  unthankful, 
verily  GOD  is  self-sufficient,  and  worthy  to  be  praised.1  And 
remember  when  Lokman  said  unto  his  son,  as  he  admonished 
him,  Oh  my  son,  give  not  a  partner  unto  GOD  ;  for  polythe- 
ism is  a  great  impiety.  We  have  commanded  man  concern- 
ing his  parents  (his  mother  carrieth  him  in  her  womb  with 
veakness  and  faintness,  and  he  is  weaned  in  two  years),  say- 
ing, Be  grateful  unto  me,  and  to  thy  parents.  Unto  me  shall 
all  come  to  be  judged.  But  if  thy  parents  endeavor  to  prevail 


S24  AL  KORAN. 

»n  thee  to  associate  with  me  that  concerning  which  thou  hast 
DO  knowledge,  obey  them  not :  bear  them  company  in  this 
world  in  what  shall  be  reasonable ;  but  follow  the  way  of 
him  who  sincerely  turneth  unto  me.  Hereafter  unto  me  shall 
ye  return,  and  then  will  I  declare  unto  you  that  which  ye 
have  done.  Oh  my  son,  verily  every  matter,  whether  good  or 
bad,  though  it  be  of  the  weight  of  a  grain  of  mustard-seed, 
and  be  hidden  in  a  rock,  or  in  the  heavens,  or  in  the  earth, 
GOD  will  bring  the  same  to  light ;  for  GOD  is  :lear-sighted 
and  knowing.  Oh  my  son,  be  constant  at  praj  er,  and  com- 
mand that  which  is  just,  and  forbid  that  which  is  evil :  and 
be  patient  under  the  afflictions  which  shall  befall  thee ;  for 
this  it  a  duty  absolutely  incumbent  on  all  men.  Distort  not 
thy  face  out  of  contempt  to  men,  neither  walk  in  the  earth 
with  insolence ;  for  GOD  loveth  no  arrogant,  vain-glorious 
person.  And  be  moderate  in  thy  pace ;  and  lower  thy  voice ; 
for  the  most  ungrateful  of  all  voices  surely  is  the  voice  of 
asses.  Do  ye  not  see  that  GOD  hath  subjected  whatever  is 
in  heaven  and  on  earth  to  your  service,  and  hath  abundantly 
poured  on  you  his  favors,  both  outwardly  and  inwardly  ? 
There  are  some  who  dispute  concerning  GOD  without  knowl- 
edge, and  without  a  direction,  and  without  an  enlightening  book. 
And  when  it  is  said  unto  them,  Follow  that  which  GOD  hath 
revealed,  they  answer,  Nay,  we  will  follow  that  which  we 
found  our  fathers  to  practise.  What,  though  the  devil  invite 
them  to  the  torment  of  hell  ?  Whosoever  resigneth  himself 
unto  GOD,  being  a  worker  of  righteousness,  taketh  hold  on 
a  strong  handle ;  and  unto  GOD  belongeth  the  issue  of  ali 
things.  But  whoever  shall  be  an  unbeliever,  let  not  his  un- 
belief grieve  thee :  unto  us  shall  they  return  ;  then  will  we 
declare  unto  them  that  which  they  have  done,  for  GOD 
knoweth  the  innermost  parts  of  the  breasts  of  men.  We  will 
suffer  them  to  enjoy  this  world  for  a  little  while :  afterwards 
we  will  drive  them  to  a  severe  punishment.  If  thou  ask 
them  who  hath  created  the  heavens  and  the  earth,  they  will 
surely  answer,  GOD.  Say,  GOD  be  praised  !  but  the  greater 
part  of  them  do  not  understand.  Unto  GOD  belongeth  what- 
ever is  in  heaven  and  earth :  for  GOD  is  the  self-sufficient, 
the  praiseworthy.  If  whatever  trees  are  in  the  earth  were 
pens,  and  he  should  after  that  swell  the  sea  into  seven  seas 
of  ink,  the  words  of  GOD  would  not  be  exhausted  ;  for  GOD 
i*  mighty  and  wise,  Your  creation  and  your  resuscitation 


AL  KORAN.  325 

we  but  as  the  creation  and  resuscitation  of  one  soul :  verily 
GOD  both  heareth  and  seeth.  Dost  thou  not  see  that  GOD 
eauseth  the  night  to  succeed  the  day,  and  causeth  the  day  to 
succeed  the  night,  and  compelleth  the  sun  and  the  moon  to 
serve  you  f  Each  of  those  luminaries  hasteneth  in  its  course 
to  a  determined  period :  and  GOD  is  well  acquainted  with 
that  which  ye  do.  This  is  declared  concerning  the  divine 
knowledge  and  power,  for  that  GOD  is  the  true  Being,  and 
fcr  that  whatever  ye  invoke,  besides  him  is  vanity ;  and  for 
that  GOD  is  the  high,  the  great  God.  Dost  thou  not  see  that 
the  ships  run  in  the  sea,  through  the  favor  of  GOD,  that  he 
may  show  ycu  of  his  signs  ?  Verily  herein  are  signs  unto 
every  patient,  grateful  person.  When  waves  cover  them, 
like  overshadowing  clouds,  they  call  upon  GOD,  exhibiting 
the  pure  religion  unto  him  ;  but  when  he  bringeth  them  safe 
to  land,  there  is  of  them  who  halteth  between  the  true  faith 
and  idolatry.  Howbeit,  none  rejecteth  our  signs,  except 
every  perfidious,  ungrateful  person.  0  men,  fear  your  LORD, 
and  dread  the  day  whereon  a  father  shall  not  make  satis- 
faction for  his  son,  neither  shall  a  son  make  satisfaction 
for  his  father  at  all :  the  promise  of  GOD  is  assuredly 
true.  Let  not  this  present  life,  therefore,  deceive  you  ; 
neither  let  the  deceiver  deceive  you  concerning  GOD. 
Verily  the  knowledge  of  the  hour  of  judgment  is  with 
GOD  ;  and  he  causeth  the  rain  to  descend  at  his  own  ap- 
pointed time;  and  he  knoweth  what  is  in  the  wombs  of 
females.  No  soul  knoweth  what  it  shall  gain  on  the  morrow ; 
neither  doth  any  soul  know  in  what  land  it  shall  die ;  but 
GOD  is  knowing  and  fully  acquainted  with  all  things. 


CHAPTER  XXXIL 

IKTTTLED,  ADORATION;  REVEALED  AT  MECCA. 
IN  THE  NAMK  OF  THB  MOST  MERCIFUL  GOO. 

A.  L.  M.  THE  revelation  of  this  book,  there  is  no  doubt 
thereof,  is  from  the  LORD  of  all  creatures.  Will  they  say, 
Mohammed  hath  forged  it  ?  Nay  it  is  the  truth  from  thy 


326  AL  KORAN. 

LORD,  that  thou  mayest  preach  to  a  people,  unto  whom  no 
preacher  hath  come  before  thee ;  peradventure  they  will  be 
directed.  It  is  GOD  who  hath  created  the  heavens  and  the 
earth,  and  whatever  is  between  them,  in  six  days ;  ana  then 
ascended  his  throne.  Ye  have  no  patron  or  intercessor  be- 
sides him.  Will  ye  not  therefore  consider  ?  He  governetb, 
all  things  from  heaven  even  to  the  earth :  hereafter  shall 
they  return  unto  him,  on  the  day  whose  length  shall  be  a 
thousand  years,  of  those  which  ye  compute.  This  is  he  who 
knoweth  the  future,  and  the  present ;  the  mighty,  the  merci- 
ful. It  is  he  who  hath  made  everything  which  he  hath  cre- 
ated exceeding  good;  and  first  created  man  of  clay,  and 
afterwards  made  his  posterity  of  an  extract  of  despicable 
water ;  and  then  formed  him  into  proper  shape,  and  breathed 
of  his  spirit  into  him ;  and  hath  given  you  the  senses  of  hear- 
ing and  seeing,  and  hearts  to  understand.  How  small  thanks 
do  ye  return !  And  they  say,  When  we  shall  lie  hidden  in 
the  earth,  shall  we  be  raised  thence  a  new  creature  ?  Yea, 
they  deny  the  meeting  of  their  LORD  at  the  resurrection. 
Say,  The  angel  of  death,  who  is  set  over  you,  shall  cause 
you  to  die  :  then  shall  ye  be  brought  back  unto  your  LORD. 
If  thou  couldest  see,  when  the  wicked  shall  bow  down  their 
heads  before  their  LORD,  saying,  O  LORD,  we  have  seen, 
and  have  heard  :  suffer  us  therefore  to  return  into  the  world, 
and  we  will  work  that  which  is  right ;  since  we  are  now  cer- 
tain of  the  truth  of  what  hath  been  preached  to  us:  thou  would- 
ett  see  an  amazing  sight.  If  we  had  pleased  we  had  certainly 
given  unto  every  soul  its  direction  :  but  the  word  which  h<u.th 
proceeded  from  me  must  necessarily  be  fulfilled,  when  1  said, 
Verily  I  will  fill  hell  with  genii  and  men,  altogether.  Taste 
therefore  the  torment  prepared  for  you,  because  ye  have  for- 
gotten the  coming  of  this  your  day :  we  also  have  forgotten 
you ;  taste  therefore  the  punishment  of  eternal  duration,  for 
that  which  ye  have  wrought.  Verily  they  only  believe  in 
our  signs,  who,  when  they  are  warned  thereby,  fall  down 
adoring,  and  celebrate  the  praise  of  their  LORD,  and  are  not 
elated  with  pride ;  their  sides  are  raised  from  their  beds, 
tailing  on  their  LORD  with  fear  and  with  hope;  and  they 
iistribute  alms  out  of  what  we  have  bestowed  on  them.  No 
wml  knoweth  the  complete  satisfaction  which  is  secretly  pre- 
pared for  them,  as  a  reward  for  that  which  they  have  wrought. 
Shall  he,  therefore,  who  is  a  true  believer,  be  as  he  who  is  an 


AL  KORAN.  827 

impious  transgressor  ?  They  shall  not  be  held  equal.  Aa 
to  those  who  believe  and  do  that  which  is  right,  they  shall 
have  gardens  of  perpetual  abode,  an  ample  recompense  for 
that  which  they  shall  have  wrought :  but  as  for  those  who 
impiously  transgress,  their  abode  shall  be  hell  fire ;  so  often 
as  they  shall  endeavor  to  get  thereout,  they  shall  be  dragged 
back  into  the  same,  and  it  shall  be  said  unto  them,  Taste 
ye  the  torment  of  hett  fire,  which  ye  rejected  as  a  falsehood. 
And  we  will  cause  them  to  taste  the  nearer  punishment  of 
this  world,  besides  the  more  grievous  punishment  of  the  next ; 
peradventure  they  will  repent.  Who  is  more  unjust  than  he 
who  is  warned  by  the  signs  of  his  LORD,  and  then  turnetb 
aside  from  the  same  ?  We  will  surely  take  vengeance  on  th« 
wicked.  We  heretofore  delivered  the  book  of  the  law  unto 
Moses ;  wherefore  be  not  thou  in  doubt  as  to  the  revelation 
thereof:  and  we  ordained  the  same  to  be  &  direction  unto  the 
children  of  Israel ;  and  we  appointed  teachers  from  among 
them,  who  should  direct  the  people  at  our  command,  when 
they  had  persevered  with  patience,  and  had  firmly  believed 
in  our  signs.  Verily  thy  LORD  will  judge  between  them, 
on  the  day  of  resurrection,  concerning  that  wherein  they 
have  disagreed.  Is  it  not  known  unto  them  how  many  gen- 
erations we  have  destroyed  before  them,  through  whose 
dwellings  they  walk  ?  Verily  herein  are  signs :  will  they 
not  therefore  hearken  ?  Do  they  not  see  that  we  drive  rain 
unto  a  land  bare  of  grass  and  parched  up,  and  thereby  pro- 
duce corn,  of  which  their  cattle  eat,  and  themselves  also  ? 
Will  they  not  therefore  regard  ?  The  infidels  say  to  the  true 
believers,  When  will  this  decision  be  made  between  us,  if  ye 
speak  truth  ?  Answer,  On  the  day  of  that  decision,  the  faith 
of  thjse  who  shall  have  disbelieved  shall  not  avail  them ; 
neither  shall  they  be  respited  any  longer.  Wherefore  avoid 
them,  and  expect  the  issue :  verily  they  expect  to  obtain  tern* 
advantage  over  thte. 


328  AL  KO&A2T. 

CHAPTER  XXXHI. 

nrriTLKD,  THE  CONFEDERATES  ;  REVEALED  AT 

IN   THE    NAME   OF    THE   HOST    MKKCIFUL   GOD. 

O  PROPHET,  fear  GOD,  and  obey  not  the  unbelievers  and 
the  hypocrites :  verily  GOD  is  knowing  and  wise.  But  fol- 
low that  which  is  revealed  unto  thee  from  thy  LORD  ;  for 
GOD  is  well  acquainted  with  that  which  ye  do ;  and  put  thy 
trust  in  GOD  ;  for  GOD  is  a  sufficient  protector.  GOD  hath 
not  given  a  man  two  hearts  within  him  ;  neither  hath  he 
made  your  wives  (some  of  whom  ye  divorce,  regarding  them 
thereafter  as  your  mothers)  your  true  mothers  ;  nor  hath  he 
made  your  adopted  sons  your  true  sons.1  This  is  your  saying 
in  your  mouths :  but  GOD  speaketh  the  truth ;  and  he  di- 
rected the  right  way.  Call  such  as  are  adopted,  the  sons  of 
their  natural  fathers :  this  will  be  more  just  in  the  sight  of 
GOD.  And  if  ye  know  not  their  fathers,  let  them  be  as  your 
brethren  in  religion,  and  your  companions :  and  it  shall  be 
no  crime  in  you,  that  ye  err  in  this  matter  ;  but  that  shall  be 
criminal  which  your  hearts  purposely  design  ;  for  GOD  is 
gracious  and  merciful.  The  prophet  is  nigher  unto  the  true 
believers  than  their  own  souls ;  and  his  wives  are  their 
mothers.  Those  who  are  related  by  consanguinity  are  nigher 
of  kin  the  one  of  them  unto  the  others,  according  to  the  book 
of  GOD,  than  the  other  true  believers,  and  the  Mohajerun : 
unless  that  ye  do  what  is  fitting  and  reasonable  to  your  rela- 
tions in  general.  This  is  written  in  the  book  of  God.  Re- 
member when  we  accepted  their  covenant  from  the  prophets, 
and  from  thee,  0  Mohammed,  and  from  Noah,  and  Abraham, 
and  Moses,  and  Jesus  the  son  of  Mary,  and  received  from 
them  a  firm  covenant ;  that  God  may  examine  the  speakers 
of  truth  concerning  their  veracity :  and  he  hath  prepared  a 
painful  torment  for  the  unbelievers.  0  true  believers,  re- 
member the  favor  of  GOD  towards  you,  when  armies  of  infi- 
dels came  against  you,  and  we  sent  against  them  a  wind,  and 
hosts  of  angels  which  ye  saw  not :  and  GOD  beheld  that 
which  ye  did.2  When  they  came  against  you  from  above 
you,  and  from  below  you,  and  when  your  sight  became 


AL  KORAN.  329 

troubled,  and  your  hearts  came  even  to  your  throats  for  feart 
and  ye  imagined  of  GOD  various  imaginations.  There  were 
the  faithful  tried,  and  made  to  tremble  with  a  violent  trem- 
bling. And  when  the  hypocrites,  and  those  in  whose  heart 
was  an  infirmity,  said,  GOD  and  his  apostle  have  made  you 
no  other  than  a  fallacious  promise.  And  when  a  party  of 
them  said,  0  inhabitants  of  Yathreb,  there  it  no  place  of  se- 
curity for  you  here;  wherefore  return  home.  And  a  part  of 
them  asked  leave  of  the  prophet  to  depart,  saying,  Verily 
our  houses  are  defenceless  and  exposed  to  the  enemy:  but 
they  were  not  defenceless ;  and  their  intention  was  no  other 
than  to  fly.  If  the  city  had  been  entered  upon  them  by  the 
enemy  from  the  parts  adjacent,  and  they  had  been  asked  to 
desert  the  true  believers,  and  to  fight  against  them  ;  they  had 
surely  consented  thereto  but  they  had  not,  in  such  case, 
remained  in  the  same,  but  a  little  while.  They  had  before 
made  a  covenant  with  GOD,  that  they  would  not  turn  their 
backs :  and  the  performance  of  their  covenant  with  GOD 
shall  be  examined  into  hereafter.  Say,  Flight  shall  not 
profit  you,  if  ye  fly  from  death  or  from  slaughter :  and  if  it 
would,  yet  shall  ye  not  enjoy  this  world  but  a  little.  Say, 
Who  is  he  who  shall  defend  you  against  GOD,  if  he  is  pleased 
to  bring  evil  on  you,  or  is  pleased  to  show  mercy  towards 
you  ?  They  shall  find  none  to  patronize  or  protect  them,  be- 
sides GOD.  GOD  already  knoweth  those  among  you  who 
hinder  others  from  following  his  apostle,  and  who  say  unto 
their  brethren,  Come  hither  unto  us ;  and  who  come  not  to 
battle,  except  a  little  :  being  covetous  towards  you.:  but  when 
fear  cometh  on  them,  thou  seest  them  look  unto  thee  for  as- 
sistance, their  eyes  rolling  about  like  the  eyes  of  him  who 
fainteth  by  reason  of  the  agonies  of  death :  yet  7f  hen  their 
fear  is  past  they  inveigh  against  you  with  sharp  tongue? ; 
being  covetous  of  the  best  and  most  valuable  part  of  the  spoils. 
These  believe  not  sincerely ;  wherefore  GOD  hath  rendered 
their  works  of  no  avail ;  and  this  is  easy  with  GOD.  They 
imagined  that  the  confederates  would  not  depart  and  raise 
the  siege :  and  if  the  confederates  should  come  another  time, 
they  would  wish  to  live  in  the  deserts  among  the  Arabs  who 
dwell  in  tents,  and  there  to  inquire  after  news  concerning 
you;  and  although  they  were  with  you  this  time,  yet  they 
fought  not,  except  a  little.  Ye  have  in  the  apostle  of  GOD 
an  excellent  example,  unto  him  who  hopeth  in  GOD,  and  the 


580  AJL  KORAN. 

last  day,  and  remembereth  GOD  frequently.  When  the  tru« 
believers  saw  the  confederates,  they  said,  This  is  what  GOD 
and  his  apostle  have  foretold  us ;  and  GOD  and  his  apostle 
have  spoken  the  truth  :  and  it  only  increased  their  faith  and 
resignation.  Of  the  true  believers  some  men  justly  performed 
what  they  had  promised  unto  GOD  ;  and  some  of  them  have 
finished  their  course,  and  some  of  them  wait  the  same  advan- 
tage ;  and  they  changed  not  their  promise  by  deviating  there* 
from  in  the  least :  that  GOD  may  reward  the  just  performers 
of  their  covenant  for  their  fidelity ;  and  may  punish  the  hypo- 
critical, if  he  pleaseth,  or  may  be  turned  unto  them ;  for  GOD 
is  ready  to  forgive,  and  merciful.  GOD  hath  driven  back 
the  infidels  in  their  wrath  :  they  obtained  no  advantage  ;  and 
GOD  was  a  sufficient  protector  unto  the  faithful  in  battle ;  for 
GOD  is  strong  and  mighty.  And  he  hath  caused  such  of 
those  who  have  received  the  scriptures,  as  assisted  the  con- 
federates, to  come  down  out  of  their  fortresses,  and  he  cast 
into  their  hearts  terror  and  dismay:  a  part  of  them  ye  slew, 
and  a  part  ye  made  captives ;  and  God  hath  caused  you  to 
inherit  their  land,  and  their  houses,  and  their  wealth,  and  a 
land  on  which  ye  have  not  trodden ;  for  GOD  is  almighty.1 
O  prophet,  say  unto  thy  wives,  If  ye  seek  this  present  life, 
and  the  pomp  thereof,  come,  I  will  make  a  handsome  pro- 
vision for  you,  and  I  will  dismiss  you  with  an  honorable  dis- 
mission ;  but  if  ye  seek  GOD  and  his  apostle,  and  the  life  to 
come,  verily  GOD  hath  prepared  for  such  of  you  as  work 
righteousness  a  great  reward.  O  wives  of  the  prophfct,  who- 
soever of  you  shall  commit  a  manifest  wickedness,  the  pun- 
ishment thereof  shall  be  doubled  unto  her  twofold,  and  this  is 
easy  with  GOD  :  but  whosoever  of  you  shall  be  obedient  unto 
GOD  and  his  apostle,  and  shall  do  that  which  is  right,  we  will 
give  her  her  reward  twice,  and  we  have  prepared  for  ker  an 
honorable  provision  in  paradise.  O  wives  of  the  prophet,  ye 
are  not  as  other  women :  if  ye  fear  God,  be  not  too  com- 
plaisant in  speech,  lest  he  should  covet,  in  whose  heart  is  a 
disease  of  incontinence ;  but  speak  the  speech  which  is  con- 
venient. And  sit  still  in  your  houses ;  and  set  not  out  your- 
selves with  the  ostentation  of  the  former  time  of  ignorance: 
and  observe  the  appointed  times  of  prayer,  and  give  alms ; 
and  obey  GOD,  and  his  apostle ;  for  GOD  desireth  only  to 
remove  from  you  the  abomination  of  vanity,  since  ye  are  th« 
household  of  the  prophet,  and  to  purify  you  by  a  perfect  puri- 


AL  KORAN.  881 

fication.  And  remember  that  which  is  read  in  your  houses, 
of  the  signs  of  GOD,  and  of  the  wisdom  revealed  in  the  Ko- 
ran ;  for  GOD  is  clear-sighted,  and  well  acquainted  with 
your  actions.  Verily  the  Moslems  of  either  sex,  and  the 
true  believers  of  either  sex,  and  the  devout  men,  and  the 
devout  women,  and  the  men  of  veracity,  and  the  women  Df 
veracity,  and  the  patient  men,  and  the  patient  women,  and 
the  humble  men,  and  the  humble  women,  and  the  alms-givers 
of  either  sex,  and  the  men  who  fast,  and  the  women  who  fast, 
and  the  chaste  men,  and  the  chaste  women,  and  those  of 
either  sex  who  remember  GOD  frequently ;  for  them  hath 
GOD  prepared  forgiveness,  and  a  great  reward.  It  is  not  JU 
for  a  true  believer  of  either  sex,  when  GOD  and  his  apostle 
have  decreed  a  thing,  that  they  should  have  the  liberty  of 
choosing  a  different  matter  of  their  own:  and  whoever  ia 
disobedient  unto  GOD  and  his  apostle  surely  erreth  with  a 
manifest  error.  And  remember  when  thou  saidst  to  him  unto 
whom  GOD  had  been  gracious,  and  on  whom  thou  also  hadst 
conferred  favors,  Keep  thy  wife  to  thyself,  and  fear  GOD  : 
and  thou  didst  conceal  that  in  thy  mind  which  GOD  had 
determined  to  discover,  and  didst  fear  men ;  whereas  it  wot 
more  just  that  thou  shouldest  fear  GOD.  But  wnen  Zeid  had 
determined  the  matter  concerning  her,  and  had  resolved  to 
divorce  her,  we  joined  her  in  marriage  unto  thee ;  lest  a 
crime  should  be  charged  on  the  true  believers,  in  marrying 
the  wives  of  their  adopted  sons,  when  they  have  determined 
the  matter  concerning  them ;  and  the  command  of  GOD  ia 
to  be  performed.  No  crime  is  to  be  charged  on  the  prophet, 
as  to  what  GOD  hath  allowed  him,  conformable  to  the  ordi- 
nance of  GOD  with  regard  to  those  who  preceded  him  (for 
the  command  of  GOD  is  a  determinate  decree),  who  brought 
the  messages  of  GOD,  and  feared  him,  and  feared  none  be- 
sides GOD  :  and  GOD  is  a  sufficient  accountant.  Mohammed 
is  not  the  father  of  any  man  among  you  •,  but  the  apostle  of 
GOD,  and  the  seal  of  the  prophets :  and  GOD  knoweth  all 
things.  O  true  believers,  remember  GOD  with  a  frequent 
remembrance,  and  celebrate  his  praise  morning  and  evening. 
It  is  he  who  is  gracious  unto  you,  and  his  angels  intercede  for 
you,  that  he  may  lead  you  forth  from  darkness  into  light ;  and 
he  is  merciful  towards  the  tr  je  believers.  Their  salutation, 
on  the  day  whereon  they  shall  meet  him,  shall  be,  Peace) 
and  he  hath  prepared  for  them  an  honorable  recompense. 


332  AL  KOBAN. 

0  prophet,  verily  we  have  sent  thee  to  be  &  witness,  and  a 
bearer  of  good  tidings,  and  a  denouncer  of  threats,  and  an 
inviter  unto  GOD,  through  his  good  pleasure,  and  a  shining 
light.  Bear  good  tidings  therefore  unto  the  true  believers, 
that  they  shall  receive  great  abundance  from  GOD.  And 
obey  not  the  unbelievers,  and  the  hypocrites,  and  mind  not 
their  evil  treatment :  but  trust  in  GOD  ;  and  GOD  is  a  suffi- 
cient protector.  0  true  believers,  when  ye  marry  women  who 
are  believers,  and  afterwards  put  them  away,  before  ye  have 
touched  them,  there  is  no  term  prescribed  you  to  fulfil  tow- 
ards them,  after  their  divorce:  but  make  them  a  present, 
and  dismiss  them  freely  with  an  honorable  dismission.  O 
prophet,  we  have  allowed  thee  thy  wives  unto  whom  thou 
hast  given  their  dower,  and  also  the  slaves  which  thy  right 
hand  possesseth,  of  the  booty  which  GOD  hath  granted  thee ; 
and  the  daughters  of  thy  uncle,  and  the  daughters  of  thy 
aunts,  both  on  thy  father's  side,  and  on  thy  mother's  side, 
who  have  fled  with  thee  from  Mecca,  and  any  other  believing 
woman,  if  she  give  herself  unto  the  prophet ;  in  case  the 
prophet  desireth  to  take  her  to  wife.  This  is  a  peculiar  priv- 
ilege granted  unto  thee  above  the  rest  of  the  true  believers. 
We  know  what  we  have  ordained  them  concerning  their  wives, 
and  the  slaves  which  their  right  hands  possess  :  lest  it  should 
be  deemed  a  crime  in  thee  to  make  use  of  the  privilege  granted 
thee  ;  for  GOD  is  gracious  and  merciful.  Thou  mayest  post- 
pone the  turn  of  such  of  thy  wives  as  thou  shalt  please,  in 
being  called  to  thy  bed;  and  thou  mayest  take  unto  thee  her 
whom  thou  shalt  please,  and  her  whom  thou  shalt  desire  of 
those  whom  thou  shalt  have  before  rejected :  and  it  shall  be 
no  crime  in  thee.  This  witt  be  more  easy,  that  they  may  be 
entirely  content,  and  may  not  be  grieved,  but  may  be  well 
pleased  with  what  thou  shalt  give  every  of  them :  GOD  know- 
eth  whatever  is  in  your  hearts ;  and  GOD  is  knowing  and 
gracious.  It  shall  not  be  lawful  for  thee  to  take  other  women 
to  wife  hereafter,  nor  to  exchange  any  of  thy  wives  for  them, 
although  their  beauty  please  thee ;  except  the  slaves  whom 
thy  right  hand  shall  possess :  and  GOD  observeth  all  things. 
0  true  believer,  enter  not  the  houses  of  the  prophet,  unless 
it  be  permitted  you  to  eat  meat  with  him,  without  waiting  his 
convenient  time ;  but  when  ye  are  invited,  then  enter.  And 
when  ye  shall  have  eaten,  disperse  yourselves  ;  and  stay  not 
to  eflter  into  familiar  discourse:  for  this  incoramodeth  th« 


AL   KORAN.  333 

I  •ophet.  He  is  asl  amed  to  bid  you  depart ,  but  GOD  is  not 
Rjhamed  of  the  truth.  And  when  ye  ask  of  the  prophets 
wives  what  ye  may  have  occasion  for,  ask  it  of  them  from 
behind  a  curtain.  This  will  be  more  pure  for  your  hearts 
and  their  hearts.  Neither  is  it  fi  for  you  to  give  any  un- 
easiness to  the  apostle  of  GOD,  or  to  marry  his  wives  after 
him  forever :  for  this  would  be  a  grievous  thing  in  the  sight 
of  GOD.  Whether  ye  divulge  a  thing  or  conceal  it,  verily 
GOD  knoweth  all  things.  It  shatt  be  no  crime  in  them,  as  to 
their  fathers,  or  their  sons,  or  their  brothers,  or  their  broth- 
ers' sons,  or  their  sisters'  sons,  or  their  women,  or  the  slaves 
which  their  right  hands  possess,  if  they  speak  to  them  un~ 
veiled:  and  fear  ye  GOD  ;  for  GOD  is  witness  of  all  things. 
Verily  GOD  and  his  angels  bless  the  prophet.  O  true  be- 
lievers, do  ye  also  bless  him,  and  salute  him  with  a  respectful 
salutation.  As  to  those  who  offend  GOD  and  his  apostle, 
GOD  shall  curse  them  in  this  world  and  in  the  next ;  and  he 
hath  prepared  for  them  a  shameful  punishment.  And  they 
who  shall  injure  the  true  believers  of  either  sex,  without 
their  deserving  it,  shall  surely  bear  the  guilt  of  calumny  and 
a  manifest  injustice.  O  prophet,  speak  unto  thy  wives,  and 
thy  daughters,  and  the  wives  of  the  true  believers,  that  they 
cast  their  outer  garments  over  them  when  they  walk  abroad ; 
this  witt  be  more  proper,  that  they  may  be  known  to  be 
matrons  of  reputation,  and  may  not  be  affronted  by  unseemly 
words  or  actions.  GOD  is  gracious  and  merciful.  Verily  if 
the  hypocrites,  and  those  in  whose  hearts  is  an  infirmity,  and 
they  who  raise  disturbances  in  Medina,  do  not  desist,  we  will 
surely  stir  thee  up  against  them,  to  chastise  them :  henceforth 
they  shall  not  be  suffered  to  dwell  near  thee  therein,  except 
for  a  little  time,  and  being  accursed  ;  wherever  they  are 
found  they  shall  be  taken,  and  killed  with  a  general  slaughter, 
ncctirding  to  the  sentence  of  GOD  concerning  those  who  have 
been  before ;  and  thou  shalt  not  find  any  change  in  the  sen- 
tence of  GOD.  Men  will  ask  thee  concerning  the  approach 
of  the  last  hour ;  answer,  Verily  the  knowledge  thereof  is 
with  GOD  alone ;  and  he  will  not  inform  thee :  peradventure 
Jhe  hour  is  nigh  at  hand.  Verily  GOD  hath  cursed  the  infi- 
dels, and  hath  prepared  for  them  a  fierce  fire,  wherein  they 
shall  remain  forever:  tLey  shall  find  no  patron  or  defender. 
On  the  day  whereon  their  faces  shall  be  rolled  in  hell  fire, 
they  shall  say,  Oh  that  we  had  obeyed  GOD,  and  had  obeyed 


334  AL  KORAN. 

hit  apostle .  And  they  shall  say,  0  LORD,  verily  we  have 
obeyed  our  ords,  and  our  great  men ;  and  they  have  seduced 
us  from  the  right  way.  O  LORD,  give  them  the  double  of 
our  punishment ;  and  curse  them  with  a  heavy  curse  O 
true  believers,  be  not  as  those  who  injured  Moses  ;  but  GOD 
cleared  him  from  the  scandal  which  they  had  spoken  con- 
cerning him ;  and  he  was  of  great  consideration  in  the  flight 
of  GOD.  O  true  believers,  fear  GOD,  and  speak  words  well 
directed ;  that  God  may  correct  your  works  for  you,  and 
may  forgive  you  your  sins :  and  whoever  shall  obey  GOD 
and  his  apostle  shall  enjoy  great  felicity.  We  proposed  the 
faith  unto  the  heavens,  and  the  earth,  and  the  mountains  :  and 
they  refused  to  undertake  the  same,  and  were  afraid  thereof; 
but  man  undertook  it :  verily  he  was  unjust  to  himself,  and 
foolish ;  that  GOD  may  punish  the  hypocritical  men,  and  the 
hypocritical  women,  and  the  idolaters,  and  the  idolatresses ; 
and  that  GOD  may  be  turned  unto  the  true  believers,  both 
men  and  women ;  for  GOD  is  gracious  and  merciful. 1 


CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

DfTlTLED,    SABA  ;    REVEALED    AT    MECCA. 

nr  TH«  HA.IU  or  THE  MOST  MERCIFUL  GOD. 

PRAISE  be  unto  GOD,  unto  whom  belongeth  whatever  ti 
in  the  heavens  and  on  earth :  and  unto  him  be  praise  in 
the  world  to  come;  for  he  t*  wise  and  intelligent.  He 
knoweth  whatsoever  entereth  into  the  earth  and  whatso- 
ever cometh  out  of  the  same,  and  whatsoever  descendeth 
from  heaven,  and  whatsoever  ascendeth  thereto :  and  he  it 
merciful  and  ready  to  forgive.  The  unbelievers  say,  The 
hour  of  judgment  will  not  come  unto  us.  Answer,  Yea,  by 
my  LORD,  it  will  surely  come  unto  you  ;  it  is  he  who  know- 
eth the  hidden  secret :  the  weight  of  an  ant,  either  in  heaven 
or  in  earth,  is  not  absent  from  him,  nor  anything  leaser 
than  this  or  greater,  but  the  tame  it  written  in  the  per- 
spicuous book  of  hit  decreet ;  that  he  may  recompense  those 


AL  KORAN.  335 

who  shall  have  believed,  and  wrought  righteousness  :  they 
shall  receive  pardon,  and  an  honorable  provision.  But  they 
who  endeavor  to  render  our  signs  of  none  effect  shall  re- 
ceive a  punishment  of  painful  torment.  Those  unto  whom 
knowledge  hath  been  given,  see  that  the  book  which  hath 
been  revealed  unto  thee  from  thy  LOBD  is  the  truth,  and 
directeth  into  the  glorious  and  laudable  way.  The  unbe- 
lievers say  to  one  another,  Shall  we  show  you  a  man  who 
•hall  prophesy  unto  you,  that  when  ye  shall  have  been  dis- 
persed with  a  total  dispersion,  ye  shall  be  raised  a  new 
creature  ?  He  hath  forged  a  lie  concerning  GOD,  or  rather 
he  is  distracted.  But  they  who  believe  not  in  the  life  to 
come  shall  fall  into  punishment  and  a  wide  error.  Have 
they  not  therefore  considered  what  is  before  them,  and  what 
is  behind  them,  of  the  heaven  and  the  earth  ?  If  we  please, 
we  will  cause  the  earth  to  open  and  swallow  them  up,  or 
will  cause  a  piece  of  the  heaven  to  fall  upon  them :  verily 
herein  is  a  sign  unto  every  servant,  who  turneth  unto  God. 
We  heretofore  bestowed  on  David  excellence  from  us :  and 
toe  said,  O  mountains,  sing  alternate  praises  with  him  ;  and 
we  obliged  the  birds  also  to  join  therein.  And  we  softened 
the  iron  for  him,  saying,  Make  thereof  complete  coats  of 
mail,  and  rightly  dispose  the  small  plates  which  compose  the 
tame :  and  work  ye  righteousness,  0  family  of  David  ;  for 
I  see  that  which  ye  do.  And  we  made  the  wind  subject 
unto  Solomon :  it  blew  in  the  morning  for  a  month,  and  in 
the  evening  for  a  month.  And  we  made  a  fountain  of 
molten  brass  to  flow  for  him.  And  some  of  the  genii  were 
obliged  to  work  in  his  presence,  by  the  will  of  his  LORD  ; 
and  whoever  of  them  turned  aside  from  our  command,  we 
will  cause  him  to  taste  the  pain  of  hell-fire.  They  made 
for  him  whatever  he  pleased  of  palaces,  and  statues,  and 
large  dishes  like  fish-ponds,  and  caldrons  standing  firm  on 
their  trevets  ;  and  we  said,  Work  righteousness,  0  family  ol 
David,  with  thanksgiving  ;  for  few  of  my  servants  are  thank- 
ful.1 And  when  we  had  decreed  that  Solomon  should  die, 
nothing  discovered  his  death  unto  them,  except  the  creep- 
ing th:'.ng  of  the  earth,  which  gnawed  his  staff.2  And  when 
his  body  fell  down,  the  genii  plainly  perceived  that  if  they 
had  known  that  which  is  secret,  they  had  not  continued  in 
a  vile  punishment.  The  descendants  of  Saba  had  hereto- 
fore a  sign  iu  their  dwelling ;  namely,  two  gardens  on  the 


136  AL   KORAN. 

right  hand  and  on  the  left,  and  it  was  said  unto  them,  Eat 
ye  of  the  provision  of  your  LORD,  and  give  thanks  unto 
him ;  ye  have  a  good  country,  and  a  gracious  LORD.  But 
they  turned  aside  from  what  we  had  commanded  them , 
wherefore  we  sent  against  them  the  inundation  of  al  Arena, 
and  we  changed  their  two  gardens  for  them  into  two  gar- 
dens producing  bitter  fruit,  and  tamarisks,  and  some  little 
fruit  of  the  lote-tree.  This  we  gave  them  in  reward,  be- 
cause they  were  ungrateful :  is  any  thus  rewarded  except 
the  ungrateful?  And  we  placed  between  them  and  the 
cities  which  we  have  blessed,  cities  situated  near  each  other ; 
and  we  made  the  journey  easy  between  them,  saying,  Travel 
through  the  same  by  night  and  by  day,  in  security.  But 
they  said,  O  LORD,  put  a  greater  distance  between  our  jour- 
ney :  and  they  were  unjust  unto  themselves ;  and  we  made 
them  the  subject  of  discourse,  and  dispersed  them  with  a 
total  dispersion.  Verily,  herein  are  signs  unto  every  patient, 
grateful  person.  And  Eblis  found  his  opinion  of  them  to 
be  true :  and  they  followed  him,  except  a  party  of  the  true 
believers :  and  he  had  no  power  over  them,  unless  to  tempt 
them,  that  we  might  know  him  who  believed  in  the  life  to 
come,  from  him  who  doubted  thereof.  Thy  LORD  observeth 
all  things.  Say  unto  the  idolaters,  Call  upon  those  whom 
ye  imagine  to  be  gods,  besides  GOD  :  they  are  not  masters 
of  the  weight  of  an  ant  in  heaven  or  on  earth,  neither 
have  they  any  share  in  the  creation  or  government  of  the 
same ;  nor  is  any  of  them  assistant  to  him  therein.  No 
intercession  will  be  of  service  in  his  presence,  except  the 
intercession  of  him  to  whom  he  shall  grant  permission  to 
intercede  for  others :  and  they  shall  wait  in  suspense  until, 
when  the  (error  shall  be  taken  off  from  their  hearts,  they 
shall  say  to  one  another :  What  doth  your  LORD  say  ?  They 
shall  answer,  That  which  is  just :  and  he  is  the  high,  the 
great  Ood.  Say,  Who  provideth  food  for  you  from  heaven 
and  earth  ?  Answer,  GOD  :  and  either  we,  or  ye,  follow 
the  true  direction,  or  are  in  a  manifest  error.  Say,  Ye  shall 
not  be  examined  concerning  what  we  shall  have  committed : 
neither  shall  we  be  examined  concerning  what  ye  shall  have 
done.  Say,  Our  LORD  will  assemble  us  together  at  the 
last  day:  then  he  will  judge  between  us  with  truth;  and 
he  is  the  judge,  the  knowing.  Say,  Show  me  those  whom 
ye  have  joined  as  partners  with  him  ?  Nay ;  rather  he  is 


AL  KORAN.  837 

the  mighty,  the  wise  GOD.  We  have  not  sent  thee  other- 
wise than  unto  mankind  in  general,  a  bearer  of  good  tid- 
ings, and  a  denouncer  of  threats ;  but  the  greater  part  of 
men  do  not  understand.  And  they  say,  When  will  this 
threat  be  fulfilled,  if  ye  speak  truth  ?  Answer,  A  threat 
M  denounced  unto  you  of  a  day  which  ye  shall  not  retard 
one  hour,  neither  shall  ye  hasten.  The  unbelievers  say, 
We  will  by  no  means  believe  in  this  Koran,  nor  in  that 
which  hath  been  revealed  before  it.  But  if  thou  couldest 
see  when  the  unjust  doers  shall  be  set  before  their  LORD  1 
They  will  iterate  discourse  with  one  another:  those  who 
were  esteemed  weak  shall  say  unto  those  who  behaved 
themselves  arrogantly,  Had  it  not  been  for  you,  verily  we 
had  been  true  believers.  They  who  behaved  themselves 
arrogantly  shall  say  unto  those  who  were  esteemed  weak, 
Did  we  turn  you  aside  from  the  true  direction,  after  it  had 
come  unto  you  ?  On  the  contrary,  ye  acted  wickedly  of  your 
own  free  choice.  And  they  who  were  esteemed  weak  shall 
say  unto  those  who  behaved  with  arrogance,  Nay,  but  the 
crafty  plot  which  ye  devised  by  night  and  by  day,  occasioned 
our  ruin  :  when  ye  commanded  us  that  we  should  not  be- 
lieve in  GOD,  and  that  we  should  set  up  other  gods  as 
equals  unto  him.  And  they  shall  conceal  their  repentance, 
after  they  shall  have  seen  the  punishment  prepared  for  them. 
And  we  will  put  yokes  on  the  necks  of  those  who  shall 
have  disbelieved:  shall  they  be  rewarded  any  otherwise 
than  according  to  what  they  shall  have  wrought  ?  We  have 
eent  no  warner  unto  any  city,  but  the  inhabitants  thereof 
who  lived  in  affluence  said,  Verily  we  believe  not  that  with 
which  ye  are  sent.  And  those  of  Mecca  also  say,  We  abound 
in  riches  and  children,  more  than  ye  ;  and  we  shall  not  be 
punished  hereafter.  Answer,  Verily  my  LORD  will  bestow 
provision  in  abundance  unto  whom  he  pleasetb,  and  will  be 
sparing  unto  whom  he  pleaseth :  but  the  greater  part  of  men 
know  not  this.  Neither  your  riches  nor  your  children  are 
the  things  which  shall  cause  you  to  draw  nigh  unto  us  with 
H  near  approach:  only  whoever  believeth,  and  worketh 
righteousness,  they  shall  receive  a  double  reward  for  that 
which  they  shall  have  wrought:  and  they  shall  dwell  in 
security,  in  the  upper  apartments  of  paradise.  But  they 
who  shall  endeavor  to  render  our  signs  of  none  effect  shall 
be  delivered  up  to  punishment.  Say,  Verily  my  LORD  will 

n 


AL  KORAN. 

bestow  provision  in  abundance  unto  whom  he  pleaseth  of 
his  servants,  and  will  be  sparing  unto  whom  he  pleaseth. 
and  whatever  thing  ye  shall  give  in  alms,  he  will  return 
it ;  and  he  is  the  best  provider  of  food.  On  a  certain  day 
he  shall  gather  them  altogether:  then  shall  he  say  unto 
the  angels,  Did  these  worship  you?  And  the  angels  shall 
answer,  GOD  forbid !  thou  art  our  friend,  and  not  these : 
but  they  worshipped  devils;  the  greater  part  of  them  be- 
lieved in  them.  On  this  day  the  one  of  you  shall  not  be 
able  either  to  profit  or  to  hurt  the  other.  And  we  will  say 
unto  those  who  have  acted  unjustly,  Taste  ye  the  pain  of 
hell  fire,  which  ye  rejected  as  a  falsehood.  When  our  evi- 
dent signs  are  read  unto  them,  they  say  of  thee,  0  Moham- 
med, This  is  no  other  than  a  man  who  seeketh  to  turn  you 
aside  from  the  gods  which  your  fathers  worshipped.  And 
they  say  of  the  Koran,  This  is  no  other  than  a  lie  blasphe- 
mously forged.  And  the  unbelievers  say  of  the  truth,  when 
it  is  come  unto  them,  This  is  no  other  than  manifest  sorcery : 
yet  we  have  given  them  no  books  of  scripture  wherein  to 
exercise  themselves,  nor  have  we  sent  unto  them  any  warner 
before  thee.  They  who  were  before  them  in  like  manner 
accused  their  prophets  of  imposture :  but  these  have  not  ar- 
rived unto  the  tenth  part  of  the  riches  and  strength  which 
we  had  bestowed  on  the  former:  and  they  accused  my 
apostles  of  imposture  ;  and  how  severe  was  my  vengeance  ! 
Say,  Verily  I  advise  you  unto  one  thing,  namely,  that  ye 
stand  before  GOD  by  two  and  two,  and  singly ;  and  then 
consider  seriously  and  you  will  find  that  there  is  no  madness 
in  your  companion  Mohammed :  he  is  no  other  than  a  warner 
unto  you,  sent  before  a  severe  punishment.  Say,  I  ask  not 
of  you  any  reward  for  my  preaching  ;  it  is  your  own,  either 
to  give  or  not :  my  reward  is  to  be  expected  from  GOD  alone ; 
and  he  is  witness  over  all  things.  Say,  Verily  my  LORD 
sendeth  down  the  truth  to  his  prophets :  he  is  the  knower  of 
secrets.  Say,  Truth  is  come,  and  falsehood  is  vanished, 
and  shall  not  return  any  more-  Say,  If  I  err,  verily  I  shall 
err  only  against  my  own  soul :  but  if  I  be  rightly  directed, 
it  wiU  be  by  that  which  my  LORD  revealeth  unto  me ;  for  he 
is  ready  to  hear,  and  nigh  unto  those  who  call  upon  him. 
If  thou  couldest  see,  when  the  unbelievers  shall  tremble, 
and  shall  find  no  refuge,  and  shall  be  taken  from  a  neai 
place,  and  shall  say,  We  believe  in  him  I  But  hnw  shal] 


AL   KORAN.  889 

they  receive  the  faith  from  a  distant  place :  since  they  had 
before  denied  him,  and  reviled  the  mysteries  of  faith,  from 
a  distant  place  ?  And  a  bar  shall  be  placed  between  them 
and  that  which  they  shall  desire ;  as  it  hath  been  done  with 
those  who  behaved  like  them  heretofore :  because  they  have 
b*en  in  a  doubt  which  hath  caused  scandaL 


CHAPTER  XXXV. 

THE    CREATOR;   REVEALED   AT    MECCA, 
nr  THB  BUCK  or  THB  HOST  MERCIFUL  GOD. 

PRAISE  be  unto  GOD  the  Creator  of  heaven  and  earth  •, 
who  maketh  the  angels  his  messengers,  furnished  with  two, 
and  three,  and  four  pair  of  wings :  GOD  maketh  what  ad- 
dition he  pleaseth  unto  his  creatures ;  for  GOD  it  almighty. 
The  mercy  which  GOD  shall  freely  bestow  on  mankind,  there 
is  none  who  can  withhold ;  and  what  he  shall  withhold,  there 
is  none  who  can  bestow,  besides  him  ;  and  he  is  the  mighty, 
the  wise.  0  men,  remember  the  favor  of  GOD  towards  you : 
is  there  any  creator,  besides  GOD,  who  provideth  food  for  you 
from  heaven  and  earth  ?  There  is  no  GOD  but  he :  how 
therefore  are  ye  turned  aside  from  acknowledging  his  unity  ? 
If  they  accuse  thee  of  imposture,  apostles  before  thee  have 
also  been  accused  of  imposture:  and  unto  GOD  shall  all 
things  return.  O  men,  verily  the  promise  of  GOD  is  true : 
let  not  therefore  the  present  life  deceive  you,  neither  let  the 
deceiver  deceive  you  concerning  GOD  :  for  Satan  is  an  enemy 
unto  you ;  wherefore  hold  him  for  an  enemy  :  he  only  inviteth 
bis  confederates  to  be  the  inhabitants  of  hell.  For  those  who 
believe  not  there  is  prepared  a  severe  torment :  but  for  those 
who  shall  believe  and  do  that  which  is  right,  is  prepared 
mercy  and  a  great  reward.  Shall  he  therefore  for  whom  his 
•vil  work  hath  been  prepared,  and  who  imagineth  it  to  be 
good,  be  as  he  who  is  rightly  disposed,  and  discemeth  the  truth  t 
Verily  GOD  will  cause  to  err  whom  he  pleaseth,  and  will  di- 
rect whom  he  pleaseth.  Let  not  thy  soul  therefore  be  spent 


340  *L  KORAN. 

In  sighs  for  their  sakes,  on  account  of  their  obstinacy ;  foi 
GOD  well  knoweth  that  which  they  do.  It.  is  God  who 
sendeth  the  winds,  and  raiseth  a  cloud;  and  we  drive  the 
same  unto  a  dead  country,  and  thereby  quicken  the  earth 
after  it  hath  been  dead  ;  so  shall  the  resurrection  be.  Who- 
ever desireth  excellence ;  unto  GOD  doth  all  excellence 
belong :  unto  him  ascendeth  the  good  speech ;  and  the  right- 
eous work  will  he  exalt.  But  as  for  them  who  devise  wicked 
plots,  they  shall  suffer  a  severe  punishment ;  and  the  device 
of  those  men  shall  be  rendered  vain.  GOD  created  JOM  first 
of  the  dust,  and  afterwards  of  seed ;  and  he  hath  made  you 
man  and  wife.  No  female  conceiveth,  or  bringeth  forth,  but 
with  his  knowledge.  Nor  is  anything  added  unto  the  age  of 
him  whose  life  is  prolonged,  neither  is  anything  diminished 
from  his  age,  but  the  same  is  written  in  the  book  of  Gods  de- 
crees. Verily  this  is  easy  with  GOD.  The  two  seas  are  not 
to  be  held  hi  comparison :  this  is  fresh  and  sweet,  pleasant 
to  drink :  but  that  is  salt  and  bitter :  yet  out  of  each  of 
them  ye  eat  fish,  and  take  ornaments  for  you  to  wear.  Thou 
eeest  the  ships  also  ploughing  the  waves  thereof,  that  ye  may 
geek  to  enrich  yourselves  by  commerce,  of  the  abundance  of 
God:  perad venture  ye  will  be  thankful.  Hecauseth  the  night 
to  succeed  the  day,  and  he  causeth  the  day  to  succeed  the 
night ;  and  he  obligeth  the  sun  and  the  moon  to  perform  their 
services  :  each  of  them  runneth  an  appointed  course.  This 
is  GOD,  your  LORD  :  his  it  the  kingdom.  But  the  idols 
which  ye  invoke  besides  him  have  not  the  power  even  over 
the  skin  of  a  date-stone :  if  ye  invoke  them,  they  will  not 
hear  your  calling ;  and  although  they  should  hear,  yet  they 
would  not  answer  you.  On  the  day  of  resurrection  they  shall 
disclaim  your  having  associated  them  with  God:  and  none 
shall  declare  unto  thee  the  truth,  like  one  who  is  well  ac- 
quainted therewith.  0  men,  ye  have  need  of  GOD  ;  but 
GOD  is  self-sufficient,  and  to  be  praised.  If  he  pleaseth,  he 
can  take  you  away,  and  produce  a  new  creature  in  your  stead: 
neither  will  this  be  difficult  with  GOD.  A  burdened  soul  shall 
not  bear  the  burden  of  another :  and  if  a  heavy-burdened 
soul  call  on  another  to  bear  part  of  its  burden,  no  part  there- 
of shall  be  borne  by  the  person  who  shall  be  called  on,  although 
he  be  ever  so  nearly  related.  Thou  shalt  admonish  those  who 
fear  their  LORD  in  secret  and  are  constant  at  prayer :  and 
whoever  cleanseth  himself  from  the  guilt  of  disobedience 


AL  KORAN.  34J 

ileanseth  himself  to  the  advantage  of  his  own  soul ;  for  all 
shall  be  assembled  before  GOD  at  the  last  day.  The  blind 
and  the  seeing  shall  not  be  held  equal ;  neither  darkness  and 
light ;  nor  the  cool  shade  and  the  scorching  wind :  neither 
shall  the  living  and  the  dead  be  held  equal.  GOD  shall  cause 
him  to  hear  whom  he  pleaseth  ;  but  thou  shalt  not  make  those 
to  hear  who  are  in  their  graves.  Thou  art  no  other  than  a 
preacher :  verily  we  have  sent  thee  with  truth,  a  bearer  of 
good  tidings,  and  a  denouncer  of  threats.  There  hath  been 
no  nation,  but  a  preacher  hath  in  past  times  been  conversant 
among  them :  if  they  charge  thee  with  imposture,  they  who 
were  before  them  likewise  charged  their  apostles  with  impos- 
ture. Their  apostles  came  unto  them  with  evident  miracles, 
and  with  divine  writings,  and  with  the  enlightening  book : 
afterwards  I  chastised  those  who  were  unbelievers  ;  and  how 
severe  was  my  vengeance  !  Dost  thou  not  see  that  GOD 
sendeth  down  rain  from  heaven,  and  that  we  thereby  produce 
fruits  of  various  colors?  In  the  mountains  also  there  are 
some  tracts  white  and  red,  of  various  colors ;  and  others  are 
of  a  deep  black  :  and  of  men,  and  beasts,  and  cattle  there  are 
whose  colors  are  in  like  manner  various.  Such  only  of  his 
servants  fear  GOD  as  are  endued  with  understanding :  verily 
GOD  is  mighty  and  ready  to  forgive.  Verily  they  who  read 
the  book  of  GOD,  and  are  constant  at  prayer,  and  give  alms 
out  of  what  we  have  bestowed  on  them,  both  in  secret  and 
openly,  hope  for  a  merchandise  which  shall  not  perish  :  that 
God  may  fully  pay  them  their  wages,  and  make  them  a 
superabundant  addition  of  his  liberality ;  for  he  t*  ready  to 
forgive  the  faults  of  his  servants,  and  to  requite  their  endeav- 
ors. That  which  we  have  revealed  unto  thee  of  the  book  of 
the  Koran  is  the  truth,  confirming  the  scriptures  which  were 
revealed  before  it :  for  GOD  knoweth  and  regardeth  his  ser- 
vants. And  we  have  given  the  book  of  the  Koran  in  heritage 
unto  such  of  our  servants  as  we  have  chosen  :  of  them  there 
is  one  who  injureth  his  own  soul ;  and  there  is  another  of  them 
who  keepeth  the  middle  way ;  and  there  is  another  of  them 
who  outstripped!  others  in  good  works,  by  the  permission  of 
GOD.  This  is  the  great  excellence.  They  shall  be  intro- 
duced into  gardens  of  perpetual  abode  ;  they  shall  be  adorned 
therein  with  bracelets  of  gold  and  pearls,  and  their  clothing 
therein  shall  be  of  silk :  and  they  shall  say,  Praise  be  unto 
GOD,  who  hath  taken  away  sorrow  from  us  I  verily  our  LOBI> 


842  AL  KORAN. 

it  ready  to  forgive  the  tinners,  and  to  reward  the  obedient 
who  hath  caused  us  to  take  up  our  rest  in  a  dwelling  of 
eternal  stability,  through  his  bounty,  wherein  no  labor  shall 
touch  us,  neither  shall  any  weariness  affect  us.  But  for  the 
unbelievers  is  prepared  the  fire  of  hell :  it  shall  not  be  decreed 
them  to  die  a  second  time;  neither  shall  any  part  of  the 
punishment  thereof  be  made  lighter  unto  them.  Thus  shall 
every  infidel  be  rewarded.  And  they  shall  cry  out  aloud  in 
hett,  saying,  LORD,  take  us  hence,  and  we  will  work  righteous- 
ness, and  not  what  we  have  formerly  wrought  But  it  shall 
be  answered  them,  Did  we  not  grant  you  lives  of  length  suffi- 
cient, that  whoever  would  be  warned  might  be  warned  there- 
in ;  and  did  not  the  preacher  come  unto  you  ?  taste  therefore 
the  paint  of  hell.  And  the  unjust  shall  have  no  protector. 
Verily  GOD  knoweth  the  secrets  both  of  heaven  and  earth, 
for  he  knoweth  the  innermost  parts  of  the  breasts  of  men. 
It  is  he  who  hath  made  you  to  succeed  in  the  earth.  Who- 
ever shall  disbelieve,  on  him  be  his  unbelief ;  and  their  un- 
belief shall  only  gain  the  unbelievers  greater  indignation  in 
the  sight  of  their  LORD  ;  and  their  unbelief  shall  only  in- 
crease the  perdition  of  the  unbelievers.  Say,  What  think 
ye  of  your  deities  which  ye  invoke  besides  GOD  ?  Show 
me  what  part  of  the  earth  they  have  created.  Or  had  they 
any  share  in  the  creation  of  the  heavens  ?  Have  we  given 
unto  the  idolaters  any  book  of  revelations,  so  that  they  may 
rely  on  any  proof  therefrom  to  authorize  their  practice  ?  Nay  ; 
but  the  ungodly  make  unto  one  another  only  deceitful  prom- 
ises. Verily  GOD  sustaineth  the  heavens  and  the  earth,  lest 
they  fail :  and  if  they  should  fail,  none  could  support  the  same 
besides  him  ;  he  is  gracious  and  merciful.  The  Koreish  swore 
by  GOD,  with  a  most  solemn  oath,  that  if  a  preacher  had 
come  unto  them,  they  would  surely  have  been  more  wittingly 
directed  than  any  nation :  but  now  a  preacher  is  come  unto 
them,  it  hath  only  increased  in  them  their  aversion  from  the 
truth,  their  arrogance  in  the  earth,  and  their  contriving  of 
evil ;  but  the  contrivance  of  evil  shall  only  encompass  the 
authors  thereof.  Do  they  expect  any  other  than  the  punish- 
ment awarded  against  the  unbelievers  of  former  tunes  ?  For 
thou  shalt  not  find  any  change  in  the  ordinance  of  GOD; 
neither  sbalt  thou  find  any  variation  in  the  ordinance  of  GOD. 
Have  they  not  gone  through  the  earth,  and  seen  what  hath 
been  the  end  of  those  who  were  before  them ;  although  they 


AL  KORAN.  848 

were  more  mighty  in  strength  than  they  ?  GOD  is  not  to  be 
frustrated  by  anything  either  in  heaven  or  on  earth  ;  for  he  is 
wise  and  powerful.  If  GOD  should  punish  men  according  to 
what  they  deserve,  he  would  not  leave  on  the  back  of  th« 
forth  so  much  as  a  beast :  but  he  respiteth  them  to  a  deter- 
mined time ;  and  when  their  time  shall  come,  verily  GOD  will 
regard  his  servants. 


CHAPTER  XXXVL 

nrriTLED,  T.  s. ;   REVEALED  AT  MECCA. 

IH    THK    NAME    OP    THB    MOST    MERCIFUL    GOD. 

Y.  S.  /  SWEAR  by  the  instructive  Koran,  that  thou  art  one 
of  the  messengers  of  God,  tent  to  show  the  right  way.  Thit 
it  a  revelation  of  the  most  mighty,  the  merciful  God:  that 
thou  mayest  warn  a  people  whose  fathers  were  not  warned, 
and  who  live  in  negligence.  Our  sentence  hath  justly  been 
pronounced  against  the  greater  part  of  them  ;  wherefore  they 
shall  not  believe.  We  have  put  yokes  on  their  necks,  which 
come  up  to  their  chins ;  and  they  are  forced  to  hold  up  their 
heads ;  and  we  have  set  a  bar  before  them,  and  a  bar  behind 
them ;  and  we  have  covered  them  with  darkness ;  wherefore 
they  shall  not  see.  It  shall  be  equal  unto  them  whether  thou 
preach  unto  them,  or  do  not  preach  unto  them ;  they  shall 
not  believe.  But  thou  shalt  preach  with  effect  unto  him  only 
who  followeth  the  admonition  of  the  Koran,  and  feareth  the 
Merciful  in  secret.  Wherefore  bear  good  tidings  unto  him, 
of  mercy,  and  an  honorable  reward.  Verily  we  will  restore 
the  dead  to  life,  and  will  write  down  their  works  which  they 
shall  have  sent  before  them,  and  their  footsteps  which  they 
thatt  have  left  behind  them :  and  everything  do  we  set  down 
in  a  plain  register.  Propound  unto  them  as  an  example  the 
inhabitants  of  the  city  of  Antioch,  when  the  apostles  of  Jetut 
came  thereto :  when  we  sent  unto  them  two  of  the  said  apot- 
tles;  but  they  charged  them  with  imposture.1  Wherefore  we 
strengthened  them  with  a  third.  And  they  said,  Verily  w« 


344  AL  KORAN. 

are  sent  unto  you  by  God.  The  inhabitant*  answered,  T« 
are  no  other  than  men,  as  we  are  ;  neither  hath  the  Merciful 
revealed  anything  unto  you:  ye  only  publish  a  lie.  The 
apostles  replied,  Our  LOKD  knoweth  that  we  are  really  sent 
unto  you  :  and  our  duty  is  only  public  preaching.  Those  of 
Antioch  said,  Verily  we  presage  evil  from  you :  if  ye  desist 
not  from  preaching,  we  will  surely  stone  you,  and  a  painful 
punishment  shall  be  inflicted  on  you  by  us.  The  apostles 
answered,  Your  evil  presage  is  with  yourselves :  although  ye 
be  warned,  witt  ye  persist  in  your  errors  ?  Verily  ye  are  a 
people  who  transgress  exceedingly.  And  a  certain  man  came 
hastily  from  the  farther  parts  of  the  city,  and  said,  0  my  peo- 
ple, follow  the  messengers  of  God ;  follow  him  who  demand- 
eth  not  any  reward  of  you  :  for  these  are  rightly  directed. 
What  reason  have  I  that  I  should  not  worship  him  who  hath 
created  me  ?  for  unto  him  shall  ye  return.  Shall  I  take  other 
gods  besides  him  ?  If  the  Merciful  be  pleased  to  afflict  me, 
their  intercession  will  not  avail  me  at  all,  neither  can  they 
deliver  me :  then  should  I  be  in  a  manifest  error.  Verily  I 
believe  in  your  LORD  ;  wherefore  hearken  unto  me.  But 
they  stoned  him :  and  as  he  died,  it  was  said  unto  him,  Enter 
thou  into  paradise.  And  he  said,  O  that  my  people  knew 
how  merciful  GOD  hath  been  unto  me  !  for  he  hath  highly 
honored  me.  And  we  sent  not  down  against  his  people,  after 
they  had  slain  him,  an  army  from  heaven,  nor  the  other  in- 
ttruments  of  destruction  which  we  sent  down  on  unbelievers  in 
former  days  :  there  was  only  one  cry  of  Gabriel  from  heaven, 
and  behold,  they  became  utterly  extinct.  Oh  the  misery  of 
men  !  No  apostle  cometh  unto  them,  but  they  laugh  him  to 
scorn.  Do  they  not  consider  how  many  generations  we  have 
destroyed  before  them?  Verily  they  shall  not  return  unto 
them :  but  all  of  them  in  general  shall  be  assembled  before  us. 
One  sign  of  the  resurrection  unto  them  is  the  dead  earth :  we 
quicken  the  same  by  the  rain,  and  produce  thereout  variout 
sorts  of  grain,  of  which  they  eat.  And  we  make  therein  gar- 
dens of  palm-trees,  and  vines ;  and  we  cause  springs  to  gush 
forth  in  the  same :  that  they  may  eat  of  the  fruits  thereof, 
and  of  the  labor  of  their  hands.  Will  they  not  therefore 
give  thanks  ?  Praise  be  unto  him  who  hath  created  all  the 
different  kinds,  both  of  vegetables,  which  the  earth  bringeth 
forth,  and  of  their  own  species,  by  forming  the  two  sexes,  and 
tteo  th«  various  sorts  of  things  which  they  know  not.  The 


AL  KORAN.  346 

night  also  is  a  sign  unto  them :  we  withdraw  the  day  from 
the  same,  and  behold,  they  are  covered  with  darkness:  and 
the  sun  hastene t h  to  his  place  of  rest.  This  is  the  disposition 
of  the  mighty,  the  wise  God.  And  for  the  moon  have  we 
appointed  certain  mansions,  until  she  change  and  return  to  be 
like  the  old  branch  of  a  palm-tree.  It  is  not  expedient  that 
the  sun  should  overtake  the  moon  in  her  course  :  neither  doth 
the  night  outstrip  the  day  :  but  each  of  these  luminaries  mov- 
eth  in  a  peculiar  orbit.  It  is  a  sign  also  unto  them,  that  they 
carry  their  offspring  in  the  ship  filled  with  merchandise  ;  and 
that  we  have  made  for  them  other  conveniences  like  unto  it, 
whereon  they  ride.  If  we  please,  we  drown  them,  and  there 
it  none  to  help  them ;  neither  are  they  delivered,  unless 
through  our  mercy,  and  that  they  may  enjoy  life  for  a 
season.  When  it  is  said  unto  them,  Fear  that  which  is  be- 
fore you,  and  that  which  is  behind  you,  that  ye  may  obtain 
mercy :  they  withdraw  from  thee :  and  thou  dost  not  bring 
them  one  sign,  of  the  signs  of  their  LORD,  but  they  turn  aside 
from  the  same.  And  when  it  is  said  unto  them,  Give  alms 
of  that  which  GOD  hath  bestowed  on  you ;  the  unbelievers 
say  unto  those  who  believe,  by  way  of  mockery.  Shall  we  feed 
him  whom  GOD  can  feed,  if  he  pleaseth  ?  Verily  ye  are  in  no 
other  than  a  manifest  error.  And  they  say,  When  will  this 
promise  of  the  resurrection  be  fulfilled,  if  ye  speak  truth  ? 
They  only  wait  for  one  sounding  of  the  trumpet,  which  shall 
overtake  them  while  they  are  disputing  together ;  and  they 
shall  not  have  time  to  make  any  disposition  of  their  effects, 
neither  shall  they  return  to  their  family.  And  the  trumpet 
shall  be  sounded  again ;  and  behold  they  shall  come  forth 
from  their  graves,  and  hasten  unto  their  LORD.  They  shall 
say,  Alas  for  us  I  who  hath  awakened  us  from  our  bed  ? 
This  is  what  the  Merciful  promised  us;  and  his  apostles 
spoke  the  truth.  It  shall  be  but  one  sound  of  the  trumpet, 
and  behold,  they  shall  be  all  assembled  before  us.  On  this 
day  no  soul  shall  be  unjustly  treated  in  the  least;  neither 
shall  ye  be  rewarded,  but  according  to  what  ye  shall  have 
wrought  On  this  day  the  inhabitants  of  paradise  shall  be 
wholly  taken  up  with  joy :  they  and  their  wives  shall  rest  in 
ehady  groves,  leaning  on  magnificent  couches.  There  shall 
they  have  fruit,  and  they  shall  obtain  whatever  they  shall 
desire.  Peace  shall  be  the  word  spoken  unto  the  righteous, 
by  n  merciful  LORD  :  but  he  shall  say  unto  the  wicked.  Be  v« 


846  AL  KORAN. 

separated  this  day,  O  ye  wicked,  from  the  righteous.  Did  1 
not  command  you,  0  sons  of  Adam,  that  ye  should  not  wor- 
ship Satan ;  because  he  was  an  open  enemy  unto  you  ?  And 
did  I  not  say,  Worship  me ;  this  is  the  right  way  ?  But  now 
hath  he  seduced  a  great  multitude  of  you  :  did  ye  not  there- 
fore understand  ?  This  is  hell,  with  which  ye  were  threat- 
ened :  be  ye  cast  into  the  same  this  day  to  be  burned  ;  for 
that  ye  have  been  unbelievers.  On  this  day  we  will  seal  up 
their  mouths,  that  they  shall  not  open  them  in  their  own  de- 
fence ;  and  their  hands  shall  speak  unto  us,  and  their  feet 
shall  bear  witness  of  that  which  they  have  committed.  If  we 
pleased  we  could  put  out  their  eyes,  and  they  might  run  with 
emulation  in  the  way  they  use  to  take  ;  and  how  should  they 
see  t furir  error  ?  And  if  we  pleased  we  could  transform  them 
into  other  shapes,  in  their  places  when  they  should  be  found ; 
and  they  should  not  be  able  to  depart ;  neither  should  they 
repent.  Unto  whomsoever  we  grant  a  long  life,  him  do  we 
cause  to  bow  down  his  body  through  age.  Will  they  not 
therefore  understand  ?  We  have  not  taught  Mohammed  the 
art  of  poetry  ;  nor  is  it  expedient  for  him  to  be  a  poet.  This 
book  is  no  other  than  an  admonition  from  God,  and  a  per- 
spicuous Koran ;  that  he  may  warn  him  who  is  living :  and 
the  sentence  of  condemnation  will  be  justly  executed  on  the 
unbelievers.  Do  they  not  consider  that  we  have  created  for 
them,  among  the  things  which  our  hands  have  wrought,  cattle 
of  several  kinds,  of  which  they  are  possessors  ;  and  that  we 
have  put  the  same  in  subjection  under  them  ?  Some  of  them 
are  for  their  riding ;  and  on  some  of  them  do  they  feed : 
and  they  receive  other  advantages  therefrom ;  and  of  their 
milk  do  they  drink.  Will  they  not,  therefore,  be  thankful  ? 
They  have  taken  other  gods,  besides  GOD,  in  hopes  that  they 
may  be  assisted  by  them  ;  but  they  are  not  able  to  give  them 
any  assistance :  yet  are  they  a  party  of  troops  ready  to  defend 
them.  Let  not  their  speech,  therefore,  grieve  thee :  we  know 
that  which  they  privately  conceal,  and  that  which  they  pub- 
licly discover.  Doth  not  man  know  that  we  have  created  him 
of  seed?  yet  behold,  he  is  an  open  disputer  against  the  res- 
nrrection;  and  he  propoundeth  unto  us  a  comparison,  and 
forgetteth  his  creation.  He  saith,  Who  shall  restore  bones  to 
life,  when  they  are  rotten  ?  Answer,  He  shall  resfx>re  them 
to  life,  who  produced  them  the  first  time :  for  he  is  skilled  in 
every  kind  of  creation  :  who  giveth  you  fire  out  of  the  green 


AL  KORAN.  347 

tree,  and  behold,  ye  kindle  your  fuel  from  thence.1  Is  not  he 
who  hath  created  the  heavens  and  the  earth  able  to  create 
new  creatures  like  unto  them  ?  Yea  certainly :  for  he  is  the 
wise  Creator.  His  command,  when  he  willeth  a  thing,  ti 
only  that  he  saith  unto  it,  Be ;  and  it  is.  Wherefore  praise 
be  unto  him,  in  whose  hand  is  the  kingdom  of  all  things,  and 
onto  whom  ye  shall  return  at  the  last  day. 


CHAPTER  XXXVIL 

nrriTLKD,  THOSE   WHO   BANK  THEMSELVES   or   ORDER 

REVEALED    AT   MECCA. 
IH   THE   HAMB    OF    THE    MOST   MERCIPUL   ODD. 

BY  the  angels  who  rank  themselves  in  order ;  and  by  those 
who  drive  forward  and  dispel  the  clouds  ;  and  by  those  who 
read  the  Koran  for  an  admonition  ;  verily  your  GOD  is  one  : 
the  LOED  of  heaven  and  earth,  and  of  whatever  is  between 
them,  and  the  LORD  of  the  east  We  have  adorned  the 
lower  heaven  with  the  ornament  of  the  stars :  and  we  have 
placed  therein  a  guard  against  every  rebellious  devil ;  that 
they  may  not  listen  to  the  discourse  of  the  exalted  princes 
(for  they  are  darted  at  from  every  side,  to  repel  them,  and  a 
lasting  torment  is  prepared  for  them)  ;  except  him  who 
catcheth  a  word  by  stealth,  and  is  pursued  by  a  shining 
flame.  Ask  the  Meccans,  therefore,  whether  they  be  stronger 
by  nature,  or  the  angels,  whom  we  have  created  ?  We  have 
eurely  created  them  of  stiff  clay.  Thou  wonderest  at  God's 
power  and  their  obstinacy  ;  but  they  mock  at  the  arguments 
urged  to  convince  them :  when  they  are  warned,  they  do  not 
take  warning ;  and  when  they  see  any  sign,  they  scoff  thereat, 
and  say,  This  is  no  other  than  manifest  sorcery :  after  we 
shall  be  dead,  and  become  dust  and  bones,  shall  we  really  be 
raised  to  life,  and  our  forefathers  also  ?  Answer,  Yea :  and 
ye  shall  then  be  despicable.  There  shall  be  but  one  blast  of 
the  trumpet,  and  they  shall  see  themselves  raised :  and  they 
•hall  say,  Alas  for  ua !  this  u  the  day  of  judgment ,  this  if 


348  AL  KORAN. 

the  day  of  distinction  between  the  righteous  and  the  \tick*d\ 
which  ye  rejected  as  a  falsehood.  Gather  together  those 
who  have  acted  unjustly,  and  their  comrades,  and  the  idoli 
which  they  worshipped  besides  GOD,  and  direct  them  in  the 
way  to  hell ;  and  set  them  before  God's  tribunal ;  for  they 
shall  be  called  to  account.  What  aileth  you  that  ye  defend 
not  one  another  ?  But  on  this  day  they  shall  submit  them- 
selves to  the  judgment  of  God:  and  they  shall  draw  nigh 
onto  one  another,  and  shall  dispute  among  themselves.  And 
the  seduced  shall  say  unto  those  who  seduced  them,  Verily  ye 
came  unto  us  with  presages  of  prosperity ;  and  the  seducers 
shall  answer,  Nay,  rather  ye  were  not  true  believers  :  for  we 
had  no  power  over  you  to  compel  you  ;  but  ye  were  people 
who  voluntarily  transgressed :  wherefore  the  sentence  of  our 
LORD  hath  been  justly  pronounced  against  us,  and  we  shall 
surely  taste  his  vengeance.  We  seduced  you  ;  but  we  also 
erred  ourselves.  They  shall  both  therefore  be  made  par- 
takers of  the  same  punishment  on  that  day.  Thus  will  we 
deal  with  the  wicked :  because,  when  it  is  said  unto  them, 
There  is  no  god  besides  the  true  GOD,  they  swell  with  arro- 
gance, and  say,  Shall  we  abandon  our  gods  for  a  distracted 
poet  ?  Nay  :  he  cometh  with  the  truth,  and  beareth  witness 
to  the  former  apostles.  Ye  shall  surely  taste  the  painful  tor- 
ment of  hell ;  and  ye  shall  not  be  rewarded,  but  according 
to  your  works.  But  at  for  the  sincere  servants  of  GOD,  they 
shall  have  a  certain  provision  in  paradise,  namely,  delicious 
fruits :  and  they  shall  be  honored :  they  shall  be  placed  in 
gardens  of  pleasure,  leaning  on  couches,  opposite  to  one 
another :  a  cup  shall  be  carried  round  unto  them,  fitted  from 
a  limpid  fountain,  for  the  delight  of  those  who  drink :  it 
shall  not  oppress  the  understanding,  neither  shall  they  be 
inebriated  therewith.  And  near  them  shall  lie  the  virgins  of 
paradise,  refraining  their  looks  from  beholding  any  besides 
their  spouses,  having  large  black  eyes,  and  resembling  the 
egg8  of  an  ostrich  covered  with  feathers  from  the  dust.  And 
they  shall  turn  the  one  unto  the  other,  and  shall  ask  one 
another  questions.  And  one  of  them  shall  say,  Verily  I  had 
an  intimate  friend  while  I  lived  in  the  world,  who  said  unto 
me,  Art  thou  one  of  those  who  assertest  the  truth  of  the  res- 
urrection f  After  we  shall  be  dead,  and  reduced  to  dust  and 
bones,  shall  we  surely  be  judged  ?  Then  he  shall  say  to  hit 
companions,  Will  ye  look  down  ?  And  he  shall  look  down, 


AL   KORAJS.  649 

and  shall  see  him  in  the  midst  of  hell :  and  he  shall  say  unto 
Aim,  By  GOD,  it  wanted  little  but  thou  hadst  drawn  me  into 
ruin :  and  had  it  not  been  for  the  grace  of  my  LORD,  I  had 
surely  been  one  of  those  who  have  been  delivered  up  to  eter- 
nal torment.  Shall  we  die  any  other  than  our  first  death ;  or 
do  we  suffer  any  punishment  ?  Verily  this  is  great  felicity . 
for  the  obtaining  &  felicity  like  this  let  the  laborers  labor.  Is 
this  a  better  entertainment,  or  the  tree  of  al  Zakkum  ?  Verily 
we  have  designed  the  same  for  an  occasion  of  dispute  unto 
the  unjust.  It  is  a  tree  which  issueth  from  the  bottom  of 
uell :  the  fruit  thereof  resembleth  the  heads  of  devils ;  and 
the  damned  shall  eat  of  the  same,  and  shall  fill  their  bellies 
therewith ;  and  there  shall  be  given  them  thereon  a  mixture 
of  filthy  and  boiling  water  to  drink  :  afterwards  shall  they 
return  into  hell.1  They  found  their  fathers  going  astray,  and 
they  trod  hastily  in  their  footsteps :  for  the  greater  part  of 
the  ancients  erred  before  them.  And  we  sent  warners  unto 
them  heretofore  :  and  see  how  miserable  was  the  end  of  those 
who  were  warned;  except  the  sincere  servants  of  GOD. 
Noah  called  on  us  in  former  days :  and  we  heard  him  gra- 
ciously :  and  we  delivered  him  and  his  family  out  of  the  great 
distress ;  and  we  caused  his  offspring  to  be  those  who  sur- 
vived to  people  the  earth :  and  we  left  the  following  salutation 
to  be  bestowed  on  him  by  the  latest  posterity,  namely,  Peace 
be  on  Noah  among  all  creatures !  Thus  do  we  reward  the 
righteous  ;  for  he  was  one  of  our  servants  the  true  believers. 
Afterwards  we  drowned  the  others.  Abraham  also  wot  of 
his  religion :  when  he  came  unto  his  LORD  with  a  perfect 
heart.  When  he  said  unto  his  father  and  his  people,  What 
do  ye  worship  ?  Do  ye  choose  false  gods  preferably  to  the 
true  GOD  ?  What  therefore  it  your  opinion  of  the  LORD  of 
all  creatures  ?  And  he  looked  and  observed  the  stars,  and 
said,  Verily  I  shall  be  sick,  and  shall  not  assist  at  your  sacri- 
jices :  and  they  turned  their  backs  and  departed  from  him. 
And  Abraham  went  privately  to  their  gods,  and  said,  scoff- 
ingly  unto  them,  Do  ye  not  eat  of  the  meat  which  is  set  before 
you  ?  What  aileth  you  that  ye  speak  not  ?  And  he  turned 
ppon  them,  and  struck  them  with  his  right  hand,  and  demol- 
ished them.  And  the  people  came  hastily  unto  him :  and  he 
said,  Do  ye  worship  the  images  which  ye  carve  ?  whereaa 
GOD  hath  created  you,  and  also  that  which  ye  make.  They 
laid,  Build  a  pile  for  him,  and  cast  him  into  the  glowing  fir* 


350  AL  KORAN. 

And  they  devised  a  plot  against  him  ;  but  we  made  them  the 
inferior,  and  delivered  him.  And  Abraham  said,  Verily  I 
am  going  unto  my  LORD,  who  will  direct  me.  0  LORD, 
grant  me  a  righteous  issue.  "Wherefore  we  acquainted  him 
that  he  should  have  a  son,  who  should  be  a  meek  youth. 
And  when  he  had  attained  to  years  of  discretion,  and  could 
join  in  acts  of  religion  with  him,  Abraham  said  unto  him,  O 
my  son,  verily  I  saw  in  a  dream  that  I  should  offer  thee  in 
sacrifice :  consider  therefore  what  thou  art  of  opinion  I  should 
do.  He  answered,  O  my  father,  do  what  thou  art  com- 
manded :  thou  shalt  find  me,  if  GOD  please,  a  patient  perso*". 
And  when  they  had  submitted  themselves  to  the  divine  u,*d, 
»nd  Abraham  had  laid  his  son  prostrate  on  his  face,  we  cried 
unto  him,  0  Abraham,  now  hast  thou  verified  the  vision. 
Thus  do  we  reward  the  righteous.  Verily  this  was  a  mani- 
fest trial.  And  we  ransomed  him  with  a  noble  victim.  And 
we  left  the  following  salutation  to  be  bestowed  on  him  by  the 
latest  posterity,  namely,  Peace  be  on  Abraham !  Thus  do 
we  reward  the  righteous  :  for  he  was  one  of  our  faithful  ser- 
vants. And  we  rejoiced  him  with  the  promise  of  Isaac,  a 
righteous  prophet ;  and  we  blessed  him  and  Isaac :  and  of 
their  offspring  were  some  righteous  doers,  and  others  who 
manifestly  injured  their  own  souls.  We  were  also  gracious 
unto  Moses  and  Aaron,  heretofore :  and  we  delivered  them 
and  their  people  from  a  great  distress.  And  we  assisted 
them  against  the  Egyptians ;  and  they  became  the  conquer- 
ors. And  we  gave  them  the  perspicuous  book  of  the  law, 
and  we  directed  them  into  the  right  way,  and  we  left  th« 
following  salutation  to  be  bestowed  on  them  by  the  latest  pos- 
terity, namely,  Peace  be  on  Moses  and  Aaron  !  Thus  do  we 
reward  the  righteous ;  for  they  were  two  of  our  faithful  ser- 
vants. And  Elias  was  also  one  of  those  who  were  sent  by 
us.  When  he  said  unto  his  people,  Do  ye  not  fear  God? 
Do  ye  invoke  Baal,  and  forsake  the  most  excellent  Creator  ? 
GOD  is  your  LORD,  and  the  LORD  of  your  forefathers.  But 
they  accused  him  of  imposture  :  wherefore  they  shall  be  de- 
livered up  to  eternal  punishment ;  except  the  sincere  servants 
of  GOD.  And  we  left  the  following  salutation  to  be  bestowed 
on  him  by  the  latest  posterity,  namely,  Peace  be  on  Ilyasin  I 
Thus  do  we  reward  the  righteous :  for  he  was  one  of  our 
faithful  servants.  And  Lot  was  also  one  of  those  who  wer« 
lent  by  us.  When  we  delivered  him  and  his  whole  family, 


AL  KORAH.  861 

except  an  old  woman,  hit  wife,  who  perished  among  those 
that  remained  behind :  afterwards  we  destroyed  the  others. 
And  ye,  0  people  of  Mecca,  pass  by  the  places  where  they 
once  dwelt,  as  ye  journey  in  the  morning,  and  by  night ;  will 
ye  not  therefore  understand  ?  Jonas  was  also  one  of  those 
who  were  sent  ly  its.  When  he  fled  into  the  loaded  ship ; 
and  t/iose  who  were  on  board  cast  lots  among  themselves,  and 
he  was  condemned  :  and  the  fish  swallowed  him  ;  for  he  was 
worthy  of  reprehension.  And  if  he  had  not  been  one  of 
those  who  praised  GOD,  verily  he  had  remained  in  the  belly 
thereof  until  the  day  of  resurrection.  And  we  cast  him  on 
the  naked  shore,  and  he  was  sick :  and  we  caused  a  plant  of 
a  gourd  to  grow  up  over  him ;  and  we  sent  him  to  an  hun- 
dred thousand  persons,  or  they  were  a  greater  number,  and 
they  believed :  wherefore  we  granted  them  to  enjoy  this  lift 
for  a  season.  Inquire  of  the  Meccans  whether  thy  LORD  hath 
daughters,  and  they  sons  ?  Have  we  created  the  angels  of 
the  female  sex  ?  and  were  they  witnesses  thereof?  Do  they 
not  say  of  their  own  false  invention,  GOD  hath  begotten 
issue  ?  and  are  they  not  really  liars  ?  Hath  he  chosen 
daughters  preferably  to  sons  ?  Ye  have  no  reason  to  judge 
thus.  Will  ye  therefore  not  be  admonished  ?  Or  have  ye  a 
manifest  proof  of  what  ye  say  ?  Produce  now  your  book  of 
revelations,  if  ye  speak  truth.  And  they  make  him  to  be  of 
kin  unto  the  genii ;  whereas  the  genii  know  that  they  who 
affirm  such  things  shall  be  delivered  up  to  eternal  punish- 
ment ;  (far  be  that  from  GOD,  which  they  affirm  of  him  /) 
except  the  sincere  servants  of  GOD.  Moreover  ye  and  that 
which  ye  worship  shall  not  seduce  any  concerning  God, 
except  him  who  is  destined  to  be  burned  in  hell.  There  it 
none  of  us  but  hath  an  appointed  place  :  we  range  ourselves 
in  order,  attending  the  commands  of  God ;  and  we  celebrate 
the  divine  praise.  The  infidels  said,  If  we  had  been  favored 
with  a  book  of  divine  revelations,  of  those  which  were  deliv- 
ered to  the  ancients,  we  had  surely  been  sincere  servants  of 
GOD  :  yet  now  the  Koran  is  revealed,  they  believe  not  there- 
in ;  but  hereafter  shall  they  know  the  consequence  of  their 
unbelief.  Our  word  hath  formerly  been  given  unto  our 
servants  the  apostles ;  that  they  shall  certainly  be  assisted 
against  the  infidels,  and  that  our  armies  should  surely  be  the 
conquerors.  Turn  aside  therefore  from  them,  for  a  season  : 
and  see  the  calamities  which  shall  afflict  them  ;  for  they  shall 


352  AL  KORAN. 

see  thy  future  success  and  prosperity.  Do  they  therefor* 
seek  to  hasten  our  vengeance  ?  Verily  when  it  shall  descend 
into  their  courts,  an  evil  morning  shatt  it  be  unto  those  who 
were  warned  in  vain.  Turn  aside  from  them  therefore  for 
a  season,  and  see :  hereafter  shall  they  see  thy  success  and 
their  punishment.  Praise  be  unto  thy  LORD,  the  LORD  who 
is  far  exalted  above  what  they  affirm  of  him  !  And  peace 
&0  on  hit  apostles  I  And  praise  be  unto  GOD,  the  LORD  of 
all  creatures ! 


CHAPTER  XXXVIIL 

DOTTLED,    8.;    REVEALED    AT   MECCA. 
IV    THB    JTAMB    OV    Tl^B    MOST    MBKOIFUL   GOD. 

S.  BY  the  Koran  full  of  admonition.  Verily  the  unbe- 
lievers are  addicted  to  pride  and  contention.  How  many 
generations  have  we  destroyed  before  them  ;  and  they  cried 
for  mercy,  but  it  was  not  a  time  to  escape.  They  wonder 
that  a  warner  from  among  themselves  hath  come  unto  them. 
And  the  unbelievers  said,  This  man  is  a  sorcerer,  and  a  liar: 
doth  he  affirm  the  gods  to  be  but  one  GOD.  Surely  this  is  a 
wonderful  thing.  And  the  chief  men  among  them  departed, 
saying  to  one  another,  Go,  and  persevere  in  the  worship  of 
your  gods :  verily  this  is  the  thing  which  is  designed.  We 
have  not  heard  anything  like  this  in  the  last  religion  :  this  is 
no  other  than  &  false  contrivance.  Hath  an  admonition  been 
sent  unto  him  preferable  to  any  other  among  us  ?  Verily  they 
*re  in  a  doubt  concerning  my  admonition :  but  they  have  not 
yet  tasted  my  vengeance.  Are  the  treasures  of  the  mercy 
of  thy  LORD,  the  mighty,  the  munificent  God,  in  their  hands? 
Is  the  kingdom  of  the  heavens,  and  the  earth,  and  of  what- 
ever is  between  them,  in  their  possession  ?  If  it  be  so,  let 
them  ascend  by  steps  unto  heaven.  But  any  army  of  the 
confederates  shall  even  here  be  put  to  flight.  The  people  of 
Noah,  and  the  tribe  of  Ad,  and  Pharaoh  the  contriver  of  the 
•takes,  and  the  tribe  of  Thamud,  and  the  people  of  Lot,  and 
the  inhabitants  of  the  wood  near  Madia*,  accused  the  proph- 


AL  KORAN.  353 

tU  of  imposture  before  them ;  these  were  the  confederates 
against  the  messengers  of  God.  All  of  them  did  no  other  than 
accuse  their  apostles  of  falsehood :  wherefore  my  vengeance 
hath  been  justly  executed  upon  them.  And  these  wait  only 
for  one  sounding  of  the  trumpet ;  which  there  shall  be  no 
deferring.  And  they  scoffingly  say,  O  LORD,  hasten  our 
sentence  unto  us,  before  the  day  of  account.  Do  thou  pa- 
tiently bear  that  which  they  utter :  and  remind  them  of  our 
servant  David,  endued  with  strength ;  for  he  was  one  who 
seriously  turned  himself  unto  God.  We  compelled  the  moun- 
tains to  celebrate  our  praise  with  him,  in  the  evening  and  at 
sunrise,  and  also  the  birds,  which  gathered  themselves  to- 
gether unto  him :  all  of  them  returned  frequently  unto  him 
for  this  purpose.  And  we  established  his  kingdom,  and  gave 
him  wisdom  and  eloquence  of  speech.  Hath  the  story  of  the 
two  adversaries  come  to  thy  knowledge  ;  when  they  ascended 
over  the  wall  into  the  upper  apartment,  when  they  went  in 
unto  David,  and  he  was  afraid  of  them.  They  said,  Fear 
not :  we  are  two  adversaries  who  have  a  controversy  to  be  de- 
cided. The  one  of  us  hath  wronged  the  other:  wherefore 
judge  between  us  with  truth,  and  be  not  unjust ;  and  direct 
us  into  the  even  way.  This  my  brother  had  ninety  and  nine 
sheep :  and  I  had  only  one  ewe :  and  he  said,  Give  her  me 
to  keep ;  and  he  prevailed  against  me  in  the  discourse  which 
we  had  together.  David  answered,  Verily  he  hath  wronged 
thee  in  demanding  thine  ewe  as  an  addition  to  his  own 
sheep :  and  many  of  them  who  are  concerned  together  in 
business  wrong  one  another,  except  those  who  believe  and 
do  that  which  is  right ;  but  how  few  are  they !  And  David 
perceived  that  we  had  tried  him  by  this  parable,  and  he  asked 
pardon  of  his  LORD  :  and  he  fell  down  and  bowed  himself, 
and  repented.  Wherefore  we  forgave  him  this  fault ;  and 
he  shall  be  admitted  to  approach  near  unto  us,  and  shall  hav« 
an  excellent  place  of  abode  in  paradise.  O  David,  verily 
we  have  appointed  thee  a  sovereign  prince  in  the  earth : 
judge  therefore  between  men  with  truth ;  and  follow  not  thy 
own  lust,  lest  it  cause  thee  to  err  from  the  way  of  GOD  :  for 
those  who  err  from  the  way  of  GOD  shall  suffer  a  severe 
punishment,  because  they  have  forgotten  the  day  of  account 
We  have  not  created  the  heavens  and  the  earth,  and  what- 
ever is  between  them,  in  vain.  This  is  the  opinion  of  the 
mbelie-yers :  but  woe  unto  those  who  believe  not,  because  of 


354  AL  KORAN. 

the  fire  ofheli  Shall  we  deal  with  those  who  believe  and  do 
good  works,  as  with  those  who  act  corruptly  in  the  earth  ? 
Shall  we  deal  with  the  pious  as  with  the  wicked  ?  A  blessed 
book  have  we  sent  down  unto  thee,  0  Mohammed,  that  they 
may  attentively  meditate  on  the  signs  thereof,  and  that  men 
of  understanding  may  be  warned.  And  we  gave  unto  David 
Solomon ;  how  excellent  a  servant !  for  he  frequently  turned 
himself  unto  God.  When  the  horses  standing  on  three  feet, 
and  touching  the  ground  with  the  edge  of  the  fourth  foot, 
and  swift  in  the  course,  were  set  in  parade  before  him  in  the 
evening,  he  said,  Verily  I  have  loved  the  love  of  earthly  good 
above  the  remembrance  of  my  LORD  :  and  have  spent  the 
time  in  viewing  these  horses,  until  the  sun  is  hidden  by  the 
veil  of  night;  bring  the  horses  back  unto  me.1  And  when 
they  were  brought  back,  he  began  to  cut  off  their  legs  and  their 
necks.  We  also  tried  Solomon,  and  placed  on  his  throne  a 
counterfeit  body :  afterwards  he  turned  unto  God,  and  said, 
0  LORD,  forgive  me,  and  give  me  a  kingdom  which  may  not 
be  obtained  by  any  after  me ;  for  thou  art  the  giver  of  king- 
doms? And  we  made  the  wind  subject  to  him ;  it  ran  gently 
at  his  command,  whithersoever  we  directed.  And  we  also 
put  the  devils  in  subjection  under  him;  and  among  them  such 
as  were  every  way  skilled  in  building,  and  in  diving  for 
pearls :  and  others  we  delivered  to  him  bound  in  chains,  say- 
ing, This  is  our  gift :  therefore  be  bounteous,  or  be  sparing 
unto  whom  thou  shah  think  Jit,  without  rendering  an  account. 
And  he  shall  approach  near  unto  us,  and  shall  have  an  ex- 
cellent abode  in  paradise.  And  remember  our  servant  Job, 
when  he  cried  unto  his  LORD,  saying,  Verily  Satan  hath 
afflicted  me  with  calamity  and  pain.  And  it  was  said  unto 
him,  Strike  the  earth  with  thy  foot ;  which  when  he  had  done, 
a  fountain  sprang  up,  and  it  was  said  to  him,  This  is  for  the* 
to  wash  in,  to  refresh  thee,  and  to  drink.  And  we  restored 
unto  him  his  family,  and  as  many  more  with  them,  through 
our  mercy ;  and  for  an  admonition  unto  those  who  are  endued 
with  understanding.  And  we  said  unto  him,  Take  a  handful 
of  rods  in  thy  hand,  and  strike  thy  wife  therewith;  and  break 
not  thine  oath.  Verily  we  found  him  a  patient  person  :  how 
excellent  a  servant  was  he!  for  he  was  one  who  frequently 
turned  himself  unto  us.  Remember  also  our  servants  Abra- 
ham, and  Isaac,  and  Jacob,  who  were  men  strenuous  and 
prudent.  Verily  we  purified  them  with  a  perfect  purification, 


AL  KORAH.  855 

through  the  remembrance  of  the  life  to  come ;  and  they  were, 
hi  our  sight,  elect  and  good  men.  And  remember  Ismael, 
and  Elisha,  and  Dhu'lkefl:  for  all  these  were  good  men.  This 
is  an  admonition.  Verily  the  pious  shall  have  an  excellent 
place  to  return  unto,  namely,  gardens  of  perpetual  abode,  the 
gates  whereof  shall  stand  open  unto  them.  As  they  lie  down 
therein,  they  shall  there  ask  for  many  sorts  of  fruits,  and  for 
drink ;  and  near  them  shatt  sit  the  virgins  of  paradise,  re- 
fraining their  looks  from  beholding  any  besides  their  spouses, 
and  of  equal  age  with  them.  This  is  what  ye  are  promised, 
at  the  day  of  account.  This  is  our  provision,  which  shall 
not  fail.  This  shall  be  the  reward  of  the  righteous.  But  for 
the  transgressors  is  prepared  an  evil  receptable,  namely,  hell : 
they  shall  be  cast  into  the  same  to  be  burned,  and  a  wretched 
couch  shatt  it  be.  This  let  them  taste,  to  wit,  scalding  water, 
and  corruption  flowing  from  the  bodies  of  the  damned,  and 
divers  other  things  of  the  same  kind.  And  it  shall  be  said 
to  the  seducers,  This  troop  which  was  guided  by  you  shall  be 
thrown,  together  with  you,  headlong  into  hell:  they  shall  not 
be  bidden  welcome ;  for  they  shall  enter  the  fire  to  be  burned. 
And  the  seduced  shall  say  to  their  seducers,  Verily  ye  shall 
not  be  bidden  welcome :  ye  have  brought  it  upon  us ;  and  a 
wretched  abode  is  hell.  They  shall  say,  O  LORD,  doubly 
increase  the  torment  of  him  who  hath  brought  this  punish- 
ment upon  us,  in  the  fire  of  hell.  And  the  infidels  shall  say, 
Why  do  we  not  see  the  men  whom  we  numbered  among  the 
wicked,  and  whom  we  received  with  scorn  ?  Or  do  our  eyes 
miss  them  ?  Verily  this  is  a  truth ;  to  wit,  the  disputing  of 
the  inhabitants  of  hell  fire.  Say,  0  Mohammed,  unto  the 
Idolaters,  Verily  I  am  no  other  than  a  warner :  and  there  is 
no  god,  except  the  one  only  GOD,  the  Almighty,  the  LORD 
of  heaven  and  earth,  and  of  whatsoever  is  between  them ;  the 
mighty,  the  forgiver  of  sins.  Say,  it  is  a  weighty  message, 
from  which  ye  turn  aside.  I  had  no  knowledge  of  the  ex- 
altod  princes,  when  they  disputed  concerning  the  creation  of 
man :  (it  hath  been  revealed  unto  me  only  as  a  proof  that  I 
am  a  public  preacher:)  when  thy  LORD  said  unto  the  an- 
gels, Verily  I  am  about  to  create  man  of  clay :  when  I  shall 
nave  formed  him,  therefore,  and  shall  have  breafhed  my 
spirit  into  him,  do  ye  fall  down  and  worship  him.  And  all 
the  angels  worshipped  him,  in  general,  except  Eblis,  who  was 
puffed  up  with  pride,  and  became  an  unbeliever.  God  said 


<J56  AL  KORAN. 

unto  him,  O  Eblis,  what  hindereth  thee  from  worshipping 
that  which  I  have  created  with  my  hands  ?  Art  thou  elated 
with  vain  pride  ?  Or  art  thou  really  one  of  exalted  merit  ? 
He  answered,  I  am  more  excellent  than  he :  thou  hast 
created  me  of  fire,  and  thou  hast  created  him  of  clay.  God 
said  unto  him,  Get  thee  hence  therefore ;  for  thou  shalt  be 
driven  away  from  mercy ;  and  my  curse  shall  be  upon  thee, 
until  the  day  of  judgment.  He  replied,  0  LORD,  respite 
me,  therefore,  until  the  day  of  resurrection.  God  said,  Ver- 
ily thou  shalt  be  one  of  those  who  are  respited  until  the  day 
of  the  determined  time.  Eblis  said,  By  thy  might  do  Isuear, 
I  will  surely  seduce  them  all,  except  thy  servants  who  shall 
be  peculiarly  chosen  from  among  them.  God  said,  It  is  a  just 
sentence ;  and  I  speak  the  truth :  I  will  surely  fill  hell  with 
thee,  and  with  such  of  them  as  shall  follow  thee,  altogether. 
Say  unto  the  Meccans,  I  ask  not  of  you  any  reward  for  this 
my  preaching :  neither  am  I  one  of  those  who  assume  a  part 
which  belongs  not  to  them.  The  Koran  is  no  other  than  an 
admonition  unto  all  creatures :  and  ye  shall  surely  know 
what  is  delivered  therein  to  be  true,  after  a  season. 


CHAPTER 


1KTITLED,  THE   TROOPS  ;   REVEALED    AT    MECCA. 
IS    THE   NAME   OF    THE   MOST    MERCIFUL   GOD. 

THE  revelation  of  this  book  is  from  the  mighty,  the  wise 
GOD.  Verily  we  have  revealed  this  book  unto  thee  with 
truth:  wherefore  serve  GOD,  exhibiting  the  pure  religion 
unto  him.  Ought  not  the  pure  religion  to  be  exhibited  unto 
Gop  ?  But  as  to  those  who  take  other  patrons  besides  him, 
laying,  We  worship  them  only  that  they  may  bring  us  nearer 
unto  GOD  ;  verily  GOD  will  judge  between  them  concerning 
that  wherein  they  disagree.  Surely  GOD  will  not  direct  him 
who  is  a  liar,  or  ungrateful.  If  GOD  had  been  minded  to 
have  had  a  son,  he  had  surely  chosen  what  he  pleased  out  of 
that  which  he  hath  created.  But  far  be  such  a  thing  from 
him  I  He  is  the  sole,  the  almighty  God,  He  hath  create*} 


AL  KORAN.  857 

the  heavens  and  the  earth  with  truth:  he  causeth  the 
night  to  succeed  the  day,  and  he  causeth  the  day  to  suc- 
ceed the  night,  and  he  obligeth  the  sun  and  the  moon  to 
perform  their  services;  each  of  them  hastening  to  an  appoint- 
ed period.  Is  not  he  the  mighty,  the  forgiver  of  sins  ?  He 
created  you  of  one  man,  and  afterwards  out  of  him  formed 
his  wife :  and  he  hath  bestowed  on  you  four  pair  of  cattl?- 
He  formeth  you  in  the  wombs  of  your  mothers,  by  several 
gradual  formations,  within  three  veils  of  darkness.  This  it 
GOD,  your  LORD  :  his  is  the  kingdom  :  there  is  no  GOD  but 
he.  Why  therefore  are  ye  turned  aside  from  the  worship  of 
him  to  idolatry  ?  If  ye  be  ungrateful,  verily  GOD  hath  no 
need  of  you ;  yet  he  liketh  not  ingratitude  in  his  servants  : 
but  if  ye  be  thankful,  he  will  be  well  pleased  with  you.  A 
burdened  soul  shall  not  bear  the  burden  of  another ;  here- 
after shall  ye  return  unto  your  LORD,  and  he  shall  declare 
unto  you  that  which  ye  have  wrought,  and  will  reward  you 
accordingly;  for  he  knoweth  the  innermost  parts  of  your 
breasts.  When  harm  befalleth  a  man,  he  calleth  upon  hia 
LORD,  and  turneth  unto  him  :  yet  afterwards,  when  God  hath 
bestowed  on  him  favor  from  himself',  he  forgetteth  that  Being 
which  he  invoked  before,  and  setteth  up  equals  unto  GOD, 
that  he  may  seduce  men  from  his  way.  Say  unto  such  a  man, 
Enjoy  this  life  in  thy  infidelity  for  a  little  while  ;  but  hereafter 
shall  thou  surely  be  one  of  the  inhabitants  of  hell  fire.  Shall 
he  who  giveth  himself  up  to  prayer  in  the  hours  of  the  night, 
prostrate,  and  standing,  and  who  taketh  heed  as  to  the  life  to 
come,  and  hopeth  for  the  mercy  of  his  LORD,  be  dealt  with  as 
t/ie  wicked  unbeliever  f  Say,  Shall  they  who  know  their  duty, 
and  they  who  know  it  not,  be  held  equal  ?  Verily  the  men 
of  understanding  only  will  be  warned.  Say,  O  my  servants 
who  believe,  fear  your  LORD.  They  who  do  good  in  this 
world  shall  obtain  good  in  the  next ;  and  GOD'S  earth  is  spa- 
cious :  verily  those  who  persevere  with  patience  shall  receive 
then:  recompense  without  measure.  Say,  I  am  commanded 
to  worship  GOD,  and  to  exhibit  the  pure  religion  unto  him : 
and  I  am  commanded  to  be  the  first  Moslem.  Say,  Verily  I 
fear,  if  I  be  disobedient  unto  my  LORD,  the  punishment  of 
the  great  day.  Say,  I  worship  GOD,  exhibiting  my  religion 
pure  unto  him  ;  but  do  ye  worship  that  which  ye  will,  besides 
him.  Say,  Verily  they  will  be  the  losers,  who  shall  lose  their 
•wn  sculs,  and  their  families,  on  the  day  of  resurrection :  if 


358  AL  KORAN. 

not  this  manifest  loss  ?  Over  them  shall  be  roofs  of  fire,  an  1 
under  them  shall  be  floors  of  fire.  With  this  doth  GOD 
terrify  his  servants :  wherefore,  oh  my  servants,  fear  him. 
But  those  who  eschew  the  worship  of  idols,  and  are  tarned 
unto  GOD,  shall  receive  good  tidings.  Bear  good  tidings  there- 
fore unto  my  servants,  who  hearken  unto  my  word,  and  follow 
that  which  is  most  excellent  therein :  these  are  they  whom 
GOD  directeth,  and  these  are  men  of  understanding.  Him, 
therefore,  on  whom  the  sentence  of  eternal  punishment  shall 
be  justly  pronounced,  canst  thou,  0  Mohammed,  deliver  him 
who  is  destined  to  dwell  in  the  fire  of  heUf  But  for  those  who 
fear  their  LORD  will  be  prepared  high  apartments  in  paradise, 
over  which  shall  be  other  apartments  built ;  and  rivers  shall 
run  beneath  them :  this  is  the  promise  of  GOD  ;  and  GOD 
will  not  be  contrary  to  the  promise.  Dost  thou  not  see  that 
GOD  sendeth  down  water  from'  heaven,  and  causeth  the  same 
to  enter  and  form  sources  in  the  earth ;  and  produceth  there- 
by corn  of  various  sorts  ?  Afterwards  he  causeth  the  same 
to  wither ;  and  thou  seest  it  become  yellow :  afterwards  he 
maketh  it  crumble  into  dust.  Verily,  herein  is  an  instruction 
to  men  of  understanding.  Shall  he,  therefore,  whose  breast 
GOD  hath  enlarged  to  receive  the  religion  of  Islam,  and  who 
followeth  the  light  from  his  LORD,  be  as  he  whose  heart  i$ 
hardened  ?  But  woe  unto  those  whose  hearts  are  hardened 
against  the  remembrance  of  GOD  !  they  are  in  a  manifest 
error.  GOD  hath  revealed  a  most  excellent  discourse ;  a 
book  conformable  to  itself,  and  containing  repeated  admoni- 
tions. The  skins  of  those  who  fear  their  LORD  shrink  for 
fear  thereat ;  afterwards  their  skins  grow  soft,  and  their  heart* 
also,  at  the  remembrance  of  their  LORD.  This  is  the  direc- 
tion of  GOD  :  he  will  direct  thereby  whom  he  pleaseth ;  and 
whomsoever  GOD  shall  cause  to  err,  he  shall  have  no  director. 
Shall  he  therefore  who  shall  be  obliged  to  screen  himself  with 
his  face  from  the  severity  of  the  punishment  on  the  iay  of 
resurrection,  be  as  he  who  is  secure  therefrom  ?  And  it  shall 
be  said  unto  the  ungodly,  Taste  that  which  ye  have  deserved. 
Those  who  were  before  them  accused  their  apostles  of  impos 
ture ;  wherefore  a  punishment  came  upon  them  from  whence 
they  expected  it  not :  and  GOD  caused  them  to  take  shame 
in  this  present  life ;  but  the  punishment  of  the  life  to  come 
will  certainly  be  greater.  If  they  were  men  of  understanding, 
they  would  know  this.  Now  have  we  proposed  unto  mankind, 


AL  KORAN.  359 

in  this  Koran,  every  kind  of  parable  ;  that  they  may  be 
warned :  an  Arabic  Koran,  wherein  there  is  no  crookedness  ; 
that  they  may  fear  God.  GOD  propoundeth  an  a  parable  a 
man  who  hath  several  companions  which  are  at  mutual  vari- 
ance, and  a  man  who  committeth  himself  wholly  to  one  per- 
son :  shall  these  be  held  in  equal  comparison  ?  GOD  forbid! 
But  the  greater  part  of  them  do  not  understand.  Verily 
thou,  0  Mohammed,  shalt  die,  and  they  also  shall  die :  and 
ye  shall  debate  the  matter  with  one  another  before  your  LORD, 
at  the  day  of  resurrection.  Who  is  more  unjust  than  he  who 
uttereth  a  lie  concerning  GOD,  and  denieth  the  truth  when  it 
cometh  unto  him  ?  Is  there  not  a  dwelling  provided  in  hell 
for  the  unbelievers?  But  he  who  bringeth  the  truth,  and 
giveth  credit  thereto,  these  are  they  who  fear  God ;  they  shall 
obtain  whatever  they  shall  desire,  in  the  sight  of  their  LORD: 
this  shall  be  the  recompense  of  the  righteous;  that  GOD  may  ex- 
piate from  them  the  very  worst  of  that  which  they  have  wrought, 
and  may  render  them  their  reward  according  to  the  utmost 
merit  of  the  good  which  they  have  wrought  Is  not  GOD  a 
sufficient  protector  of  his  servant  ?  yet  they  will  attempt  to 
make  thee  afraid  of  the  false  deities  which  they  worship 
besides  GOD.  But  he  whom  GOD  shall  cause  to  err,  shall 
have  none  to  direct  him :  and  he  whom  GOD  shall  direct, 
shall  have  none  to  mislead  him.  Is  not  GOD  most  mighty, 
able  to  avenge?  If  thou  ask  them  who  hath  created  the 
heavens  and  the  earth,  they  will  surely  enswer,  GOD.  Say, 
Do  ye  think,  therefore,  that  the  deities  which  ye  invoke  be- 
sides GOD,  if  GOD  be  pleased  to  afflict  me,  are  able  to  relieve 
me  from  his  affliction  ?  or  if  he  be  pleased  to  show  mercy 
unto  me,  that  they  are  able  to  withhold  his  mercy  ?  Say, 
GOD  is  my  sufficient  support :  in  him  let  those  put  their  trust, 
who  seek  in  whom  to  confide.  Say,  oh  my  people,  do  ye  act 
according  to  your  state  ;  verily  I  will  act  according  to  mine  : 
hereafter  shall  ye  know  on  which  of  us  will  be  inflicted  a 
punishment  that  shall  cover  him  with  shame,  and  on  whom  a 
lasting  punishment  shall  fall.  Verily  we  have  revealed  unto 
thee  the  book  of  the  Koran,  for  the  instruction  of  mankind, 
with  truth.  Whoso  shall  be  directed  thereby  shall  be  directed 
to  the  advantage  of  his  own  soul ;  and  whoso  shall  err,  shall 
only  err  against  the  same :  nnd  thou  art  not  a  guardian  over 
them.  GOD  taketh  unto  himself  the  souls  of  men  at  the  time 
»f  th«ir  death ;  and  those  which  die  not  he  also  taketh  in  their 


360  AL   KORAN. 

deep  :  and  he  withholdeth  those  on  which  he  hath  passed  tb« 
decree  of  death,  but  sendeth  back  the  others  till  a  determined 
period.  Verily  herein  are  signs  unto  the  people  who  con- 
sider. Have  the  Koreish  taken  idols  for  their  intercessors 
with  Godf  Say,  What,  although  they  have  not  dominion 
over  anything,  neither  do  they  understand  ?  Say,  Interces- 
sion is  altogether  in  the  disposal  of  GOD  :  his  is  the  kingdom 
of  heaven  and  earth  ;  and  hereafter  shall  ye  return  unto  him. 
When  the  one  sole  GOD  is  mentioned,  the  hearts  of  those 
who  believe  not  in  the  life  to  come,  shrink  with  horror :  but 
when  the  false  gods,  which  are  worshipped  besides  him,  are 
mentioned,  behold  they  are  filled  with  joy.  Say,  O  GOD,  the 
creator  of  heaven  and  earth,  who  knowest  that  which  ia 
secret,  and  that  which  is  manifest;  thou  shalt  judge  between 
thy  servants  concerning  that  wherein  they  disagree.  If  those 
who  act  unjustly  were  masters  of  whatever  is  in  the  earth, 
and  as  much  more  therewith,  verily  they  would  give  it  to 
ransom  themselves  from  the  evil  of  the  punishment,  on  the 
day  of  resurrection :  and  there  shall  appear  unto  them,  from 
GOD,  terrors  which  they  never  imagined ;  and  there  shall 
appear  unto  them  the  evils  of  that  which  they  shall  have 
gained  ;  and  that  which  they  mocked  at  shall  encompass  them. 
When  harm  befalleth  man,  he  calleth  upon  us ;  yet  after- 
wards, when  we  have  bestowed  on  him  favor  from  us,  he 
saith,  I  have  received  it  merely  because  of  God's  knowledge 
of  my  deserts.  On  the  contrary,  it  is  a  trial ;  but  the  greater 
part  of  them  know  it  not.  Those  who  were  before  them  said 
the  same :  but  that  which  they  had  gained,  profited  them  not : 
and  the  evils  which  they  had  deserved,  fell  upon  them.  And 
whoever  of  these  Meccans  shall  have  acted  unjustly,  on  them 
likewise  shall  fall  the  evils  which  they  shall  have  deserved ; 
neither  shall  they  frustrate  the  divine  vengeance.  Do  they  not 
know  that  GOD  bestoweth  provision  abundantly  on  whom  he 
pleaseth,  and  is  sparing  unto  whom  he  pkaseth  ?  Verily 
herein  are  signs  unto  people  who  believe.  Say,  0  my  ser- 
vants who  have  transgressed  against  your  own  souls,  despair 
not  of  the  mercy  of  GOD  :  seeing  that  GOD  forgiveth  all 
sins,  for  he  is  gracious  and  merciful.  And  be  turned  unto 
your  LOED,  and  resign  yourselves  unto  him,  before  the 
threatened  punishment  overtake  you ;  for  then  ye  shall  not  b« 
helped.  And  follow  the  most  excellent  instructions  which 
have  bien  sent  down  unto  you  from  your  LORD,  before  the 


AL    &ORAN.  361 

punishment  come  suddenly  upon  you,  and  ye  perceive  not  tfu 
approach  thereof;  and  a  soul  say,  Alas !  for  that  I  have  been 
oegligent  in  my  duty  to  GOD  ;  verily  I  have  been  one  of  the 
•corners :  or  say,  If  GOD  had  directed  me,  verily  I  had  been 
one  of  the  pious :  or  say,  when  it  seeth  the  prepared  punish- 
ment, If  I  could  return  once  more  into  the  world,  I  would 
become  one  of  the  righteous.  But  God  shall  answer.  My 
signs  came  unto  thee  heretofore,  and  thou  didst  charge  them 
with  falsehood,  and  wast  puffed  up  with  pride ;  and  thou  be- 
camest  one  of  the  unbelievers.  On  the  day  of  resurrection, 
thou  shall  see  the  faces  of  those  who  have  uttered  lies  con- 
cerning GOD,  become  black :  is  there  not  an  abode  prepared 
in  hell  for  the  arrogant  ?  But  GOD  shall  deliver  those  who 
shall  fear  him,  and  thaU  set  them  in  their  place  of  safety : 
evil  shall  not  touch  them,  neither  shall  they  be  grieved.  GOD 
it  the  creator  of  all  things,  and  he  is  the  governor  of  all 
things.  His  are  the  keys  of  heaven  and  earth  :  and  they  who 
believe  not  in  the  signs  of  GOD,  they  shall  perish.  Say,  Do 
ye  therefore  bid  me  to  worship  other  than  GOD,  oh  ye  fools  ? 
since  it  hath  been  spoken  by  revelation  unto  thee,  and  also 
unto  the  prophets  who  have  been  before  thee,  saying,  Verily  if 
thou  join  any  partners  with  God,  thy  work  will  be  altogether 
unprofitable,  and  thou  shalt  certainly  be  one  of  those  who 
perish  :  wherefore  rather  fear  GOD,  and  be  one  of  those  who 
give  thanks.  But  they  make  not  a  due  estimation  of  GOD  : 
since  the  whole  earth  shall  be  but  his  handful,  on  the  day  of 
resurrection ;  and  the  heavens  shall  be  rolled  together  in  his 
right  hand.  Praise  be  unto  him  !  and  far  be  he  exalted  above 
the  idols  which  they  associate  with  him  !  the  trumpet  shall  be 
sounded,  and  whoever  are  in  heaven,  and  whoever  are  oa 
earth,  shall  expire ;  except  those  whom  GOD  shall  please  to 
exempt  from  the  common  fate.1  Afterwards  it  shall  be  sounded 
again ;  and  behold,  they  shall  arise  and  look  up.  And  the 
earth  shall  shine  by  the  light  of  its  LORD  :  and  the  book  shall 
be  laid  open,  and  the  prophets  and  the  martyrs  shall  be 
brought  as  witnesses  ;  and  judgment  shall  be  given  between 
them  with  truth,  and  they  shall  not  be  treated  unjustly.  And 
every  soul  shall  be  fully  rewarded,  according  to  that  which  it 
shall  have  wrought ;  for  he  perfectly  knoweth  whatever  they  do. 
And  the  unbelievers  shall  be  driven  unto  hell  by  troops,  until, 
when  they  shall  arrive  at  the  same,  the  gates  thereof  shall  be 
•pened :  and  the  keepers  thereof  shall  say  unto  them,  Dia 


962  AL  KORAN. 

not  apostles  from  among  you  come  unto  you,  who  rehearsed 
unto  you  the  signs  of  your  LORD,  and  warned  you  of  the 
meeting  of  this  your  day  ?  They  shall  answer,  Yea :  but  the 
sentence  of  eternal  punishment  hath  been  justly  pronounced 
on  the  unbelievers.  It  shall  be  said  unto  them,  Enter  ye  the 
gates  of  hell,  to  dwell  therein  forever ;  and  miserable  shall  be 
the  abode  of  the  proud !  But  those  who  shall  have  feared 
their  LORD  shall  be  conducted  by  troops  towards  paradise, 
until  they  shall  arrive  at  the  same :  and  the  gates  thereof 
ehall  be  ready  set  open ;  and  the  guards  thereof  shall  say 
unto  them,  Peace  be  on  you !  ye  have  been  good :  where- 
fore enter  ye  into  paradise,  to  remain  therein  forever.  And 
they  shall  answer,  Praise  be  unto  GOD,  who  hath  performed 
his  promise  unto  us,  and  hath  made  us  to  inherit  the  earth, 
that  we  may  dwell  in  paradise  wherever  we  please  !  How 
excellent  is  the  reward  of  those  who  work  righteousness! 
And  thou  shalt  see  the  angels  going  in  procession  round  the 
throne,  celebrating  the  praises  of  their  LORD  :  and  judgment 
shall  be  given  between  them  with  truth ;  and  they  shall  say, 
Praise  be  unto  GOD,  the  LORD  of  all  creatures  I 


CHAPTER  XL. 

nrriTLKD,  THE  TRUE  BELIEVER;  REVEALED  AT  MECCA. 

IW  THB  NAME  OF  THE  MOST  MERCIFUL  OOD. 

H.  M.  THE  revelation  of  this  book  is  from  the  mighty, 
the  wise  GOD  ;  the  forgiver  of  sin  and  the  accepter  of 
repentance  ;  severe  in  punishing ;  long  suffering.  There  is 
no  GOD  but  he  :  before  him  shall  be  the  general  assembly  at 
the  last  day.  None  disputeth  against  the  signs  of  GOD,  except 
the  unbelievers :  but  let  not  their  prosperous  dealing  in  the 
land  deceive  thee  with  vain  allurement.  The  people  of 
Noah,  and  the  confederated  infidels  which  w».re  after  them, 
accused  their  respective  prophets  of  imposture  before  these ; 
and  each  nation  hatched  iU  designs  against  their  apostle, 
that  they  might  get  him  into  their  power ;  and  they  dis- 


AL  KORAN.  368 

puted  with  vain  reasoning,  that  they  might  thereby  invalidate 
the  truth :  wherefore  I  chastised  them  ;  and  how  severe  was 
my  punishment !  Thus  hath  the  sentence  of  thy  LORD 
justly  passed  on  the  unbelievers ;  and  they  shall  be  the  in- 
habitants of  hell  fire.  The  angels  who  bear  the  throne  of 
God,  and  those  who  stand  about  it,  celebrate  the  praise  of 
their  LORD,  and  believe  in  him ;  and  they  ask  pardon  for 
the  true  believers,  saying,  O  LORD,  thou  encompassest  all 
things  by  thy  mercy  and  knowledge ;  wherefore  forgive  those 
who  repent,  and  follow  thy  path,  and  deliver  them  from  the 
pains  of  hell :  O  LORD,  lead  them  also  into  gardens  of 
eternal  abode,  which  thou  hast  promised  unto  them,  and 
unto  every  one  who  shall  do  right,  of  their  fathers,  and  their 
wives,  and  their  children ;  for  thou  art  the  mighty,  the  wise 
God.  And  deliver  them  from  evil ;  for  whomsoever  thou 
shalt  deliver  from  evil  on  that  day,  on  him  wilt  thou  show 
mercy  ;  and  this  will  be  great  salvation.  But  the  infidels 
at  the  day  of  judgment,  shall  hear  a  voice  crying  unto  them, 
Verily  the  hatred  of  GOD  towards  you  is  more  grievous  than 
your  hatred  towards  yourselves :  since  ye  were  called  unto 
the  faith,  and  would  not  believe.  They  shall  say,  O  LORD, 
thou  hast  given  us  death  twice,  and  thou  hast  twice  given 
us  life ;  and  we  confess  our  sins :  it  there  therefore  no  way 
to  get  forth  from  this  fire  ?  And  it  shall  be  answered  them, 
This  hath  befallen  you,  for  that  when  one  GOD  was  preached 
unto  you,  ye  believed  not ;  but  if  a  plurality  of  gods  had 
been  associated  with  him,  ye  had  believed :  and  judgment 
belongeth  unto  the  high,  the  great  GOD.  It  is  he  who  show- 
eth  you  his  signs,  and  sendeth  down  food  unto  you  from 
heaven  :  but  none  will  be  admonished,  except  he  who  turneth 
himself  unto  God.  Call  therefore  upon  GOD,  exhibiting 
your  religion  pure  unto  him,  although  the  infidels  be  averse 
thereto.  He  it  the  Being  of  exalted  degree,  the  possessor  of 
the  throne ;  who  sendeth  down  the  spirit,  at  his  command, 
on  such  of  his  servants  as  he  pleaseth :  that  he  may  warn 
mankind  of  the  day  of  meeting,  the  day  whereon  they  shall 
come  forth  out  of  their  graves,  and  nothing  of  what  concemeth 
them  shall  be  hidden  from  GOD.  Unto  whom  will  the  king- 
dom belong,  on  that  day  ?  Unto  the  only,  the  almighty  G  ;>a>. 
On  that  day  shall  every  soul  be  rewarded  according  to  ita 
merits  :  there  shall  be  no  injustice  done  on  that  day.  Verily 
GOD  will  be  swift  in  taking  an  account.  Wherefore  warp 


364  AL  KORAN. 

them,  0  prophet,  of  the  day  which  shall  suddenly  approach 
when  men'c  hearts  shall  come  up  to  their  throats,  and  strangle 
them.  The  ungodly  shall  have  no  friend  or  intercessor  who 
shall  be  heard.  God  will  know  the  deceitful  eye,  and  that 
which  their  breasts  conceal ;  and  GOD  will  judge  with  truth  : 
but  the  false  gods  which  they  invoke,  besides  him,  shall  not 
judge  at  all :  for  GOD  is  he  who  heareth  and  seeth.  Have 
they  not  gone  through  the  earth,  and  seen  what  hath  been 
the  end  of  those  who  were  before  them  ?  They  were  more 
mighty  than  these  in  strength,  and  left  more  considerable  foot- 
steps of  their  power  in  the  earth :  yet  GOD  chastised  thorn 
for  their  sins,  and  there  was  none  to  protect  them  from  GOD. 
This  they  mjfered,  because  their  apostles  had  come  unto 
them  with  evident  signs,  and  they  disbelieved :  wherefore 
GOD  chastised  them  ;  for  he  is  strong,  and  severe  in  punish- 
ing. We  heretofore  sent  Moses  with  our  signs  and  mani- 
fest power,  unto  Pharaoh,  and  Haman,  and  Karun  ;  and  they 
said,  He  is  a  sorcerer,  and  a  liar.  And  when  he  came  unto 
them  with  the  truth  from  us,  they  said,  Slay  the  sons  of  those 
who  have  believed  with  him,  and  save  their  daughters  alive : 
but  the  stratagem  of  the  infidels  wot  no  other  than  vain. 
And  Pharaoh  said,  Let  me  alone,  that  I  may  kill  Moses ; 
and  let  him  call  upon  his  LORD  :  verily  I  fear  lest  he  change 
your  religion,  or  cause  violence  to  appear  in  the  earth.  And 
Moses  said  unto  his  people,  Verily  I  have  recourse  unto  my 
LORD  and  your  LORD,  to  defend  me  against  every  proud 
person,  who  believeth  not  in  the  day  of  account.  And  a 
man  who  was  a  true  believer,  of  the  family  of  Pharaoh,  and 
concealed  in  his  faith,  said,  Will  ye  put  a  man  to  death,  be- 
cause he  saith,  GOD  is  my  LORD  ;  seeing  he  is  come  unto 
you  with  evident  signs  from  your  LORD  ?  If  he  be  a  liar, 
on  him  will  the  punishment  of  his  falsehood  light;  but  if 
he  speaketh  the  truth,  some  of  those  judgments  with  which  h« 
threateneth  you  will  fall  upon  you  :  verily  GOD  directeth  not 
him  who  is  a  transgressor,  or  a  liar :  O  my  people,  the  king- 
dom is  yours  this  day ;  and  ye  are  conspicuous  in  the  earth ; 
but  who  shall  defend  us  from  the  scourge  of  GOD,  if  it  come 
unto  us  ?  Pharaoh  said,  I  only  propose  to  you  what  I  think 
to  be  most  expedient;  and  I  guide  you  only  into  the  right 
path.  And  he  who  had  believed  said,  O  my  people,  Verily 
I  fear  for  you  a  day  like  that  of  the  confederates  against  the 
prophet*  in  former  times  ;  a  condition  like  that  of  the  peo- 


AL  KORAN.  865 

gfte  of  Noah,  and  the  tribes  of  Ad  and  Thamud,  and  of  those 
who  have  lived  after  them  ;  for  GOD  willeth  not  that  any 
injustice  be  done  unto  his  servants.  0  my  people,  verily  I 
fear  for  you  the  day  whereon  men  shall  call  unto  one  an- 
other ;  the  day  whereon  ye  shall  be  turned  back  from  the 
tribunal,  and  driven  to  hett:  then  shall  ye  have  none  to  pro- 
tect you  against  GOD.  And  he  whom  GOD  shall  cause  to 
err  shall  have  no  director.  Joseph  came  unto  you,  before 
,1/ose*,  with  evident  signs  ;  but  ye  ceased  not  to  doubt  of  the 
religion  which  he  preached  unto  you,  until,  when  he  died,  ye 
said,  GOD  will  by  no  means  send  another  apostle  after  him. 
Thus  doth  GOD  cause  him  to  err,  who  is  a  transgressor,  and 
a  sceptic.  They  who  dispute  against  the  signs  of  GOD,  with- 
out any  authority  which  hath  come  unto  them,  are  in  great 
abomination  with  GOD,  and  with  those  who  believe.  Thus 
doth  GOD  seal  up  every  proud  and  stubborn  heart.  And 
Pharaoh  said,  O  Haman,  build  me  a  tower,  that  I  may  reach 
the  tracts,  the  tracts  of  heaven,  and  may  view  the  GOD  of 
Moses ;  for  verily  I  think  him  to  be  a  liar.  And  thus  the 
evil  of  his  work  was  prepared  for  Pharaoh,  and  he  turned 
aside  from  the  right  path :  and  the  stratagems  of  Pharaoh 
ended  only  in  loss.  And  he  who  had  believed  said,  0  my 
people,  follow  me  :  I  will  guide  you  into  the  right  way.  0  my 
people,  verily  this  present  life  is  but  a  temporary  enjoyment ; 
but  the  life  to  come  is  the  mansion  of  firm  continuance. 
Whoever  worketh  evil  shall  only  be  rewarded  in  equal  pro- 
portion to  the  same  :  but  whoever  worketh  good,  whether 
male  or  female,  and  is  a  true  believer,  they  shall  enter  para- 
dise :  they  shall  be  provided  for  therein  superabundantly. 
And,  0  my  people,  as  for  me,  I  invite  you  to  salvation  ;  but 
ye  invite  me  to  hett  fire  :  ye  invite  me  to  deny  GOD,  and 
to  associate  with  him  that  whereof  I  have  no  knowledge ; 
but  I  invite  you  to  the  most  mighty,  the  forgiver  of  tins. 
There  is  no  doubt  but  that  the  false  gods  to  which  ye  invite 
me  deserve  not  to  be  invoked,  either  in  this  world  or  in  the 
pezt ;  and  that  we  must  return  unto  GOD  ;  and  that  the 
transgressors  shall  be  the  inhabitants  of  hett  fire :  and  ye 
shall  then  remember  what  I  now  say  unto  you.  And  I  com- 
mit my  affair  unto  690  ;  for  GOD  regardeth  his  servants. 
Wherefore  GOD  delivered  him  from  the  evils  which  they 
had  devised ;  and  a  grievous  punishment  encompassed  the 
oeople  of  Pharaoh.  They  shall  be  exposed  to  the  fire  oj 


366  AL  KORAN. 

hell  morning  and  evening :  and  the  day  whereon  the  hour 
of  judgment  shall  come,  it  shall  be  said  unto  them,  Enter,  O 
people  of  Pharaoh,  into  a  most  severe  torment.    And  think  on 
the  time  when  the  infidels  shall  dispute  together  in  hell  fire  i 
and  the  weak  shall  say  unto  those  who  behaved  with  arro- 
gance,  Verily  we  were   your  followers :    will  ye  therefore 
relieve  us  from  any  part  of  this  fire  ?     Those  who  behaveo 
with   arrogance  shall  answer,  Verily  we  are  all  doomed  to 
suffer  therein :  for  GOD  hath  now  judged  between  his  ser- 
vants.    And  they  who  shall  be  in  the  fire  shall  say  unto  th* 
keepers  of  hell,  Call  ye  on  your  LORD,  that  he  would  ease 
us,  for  one  day,  from  this  punishment.     They  shall  answer, 
Did  not  your  apostles  come  unto  you  with  evident  proofs  ? 
They   shall   say,   Yea.       The  keepers   shall   reply,   Do   ye 
therefore  call  on   God:  but  the   calling  of  the  unbelievers 
on  him  shall  be  only  in  vain.      We  will  surely  assist  our 
apostles,  and  those  who  believe,  in    this   present   life,   and 
on   the   day  whereon   the   witnesses   shall   stand   forth :   a 
day,  whereon  the  excuse  of  the  unbelievers  shall  not  avail 
them ;    but    a   curse   shall   attend   them,  and    a    wretched 
abode.     We  heretofore  gave  unto  Moses  a  direction  ;  and 
we  left  as  an  inheritance  unto  the  children  of  Israel  the 
book  of  the  law ;  a  direction,  and  an  admonition  to  men  of 
understanding.     Wherefore  do  thou,  0  prophet,  bear  the  in- 
sults of  the  infidels  with  patience ;  for  the  promise  of  GOD  it 
true ;  and  ask  pardon  for  thy  fault ;  and  celebrate  the  praise 
of  thy  LORD,  in  the  evening  and  in  the  morning.     As  to 
those  who  impugn  the  signs  of  GOD,  without  any  convincing 
proof  which  hath  been  revealed  unto  them,  there  is  nothing 
but  pride  in  their  breasts  ;  but  they  shall  not  attain  their  de- 
sire :  wherefore  fly  for  refuge  unto  GOD  ;  for  it  is  he  who 
heareth  and  seeth.     Verily  the  creation  of  heaven  and  earth 
is  more  considerable  than  the  creation  of  man :  but  the  greater 
part  of  men  do  not  understand.     The  blind  and  the  seeing 
shall  not  be  held   equal ;  nor  they  who  believe  and  work 
righteousness,  and   the   evil   doer :   how  few  revolve   these 
things  in   their   mind !     The  last  hour  will   surely  come ; 
there  is  no  doubt  thereof:  but  the  greater  part  of  men  be- 
lieve it  not.     Your  LORD  said,  Call  upon  me,  and  I  will 
hear  you  :  but  they  who  proudly  disdain  my  service  shall 
enter  with  ignominy  into  hell.     It  is  GOD  who  hath  ap- 
pointed the  night  for  you  to  take  your  rest  therein,  and  th« 


AL  KOBAW.  36 

lay  to  give  you  light:  verily  GOD  it  endued  with  benefi- 
cence towards  mankind :  but  the  greater  part  of  men  do  not 
give  thanks.  This  is  GOD,  your  LORD,  the  Creator  of  all 
things  ;  there  is  no  GOD  besides  him :  how  therefore  are  ye 
turned  aside  from  his  worship?  Thus  are  they  turned  aside, 
who  oppose  the  signs  of  GOD.  It  is  GOD  who  hath  given 
you  the  earth  for  a  stable  floor,  and  the  heaven  for  a  ceiling ; 
and  who  hath  formed  you,  and  made  your  forms  beautiful, 
and  feedeth  you  with  good  things.  This  is  GOD,  your  LORD. 
Wherefore  blessed  be  GOD,  the  LORD  of  all  creatures !  He 
M  the  living  God:  there  is  no  GOD  but  he.  Wherefore  call 
upon  him,  exhibiting  unto  him  the  pure  religion.  Praise  be 
unto  GOD,  the  LORD  of  all  creatures !  Say,  Verily  I  am 
forbidden  to  worship  the  deities  which  ye  invoke,  besides 
GOD,  after  that  evident  proofs  have  come  unto  me  from  my 
LORD  ;  and  I  am  commanded  to  resign  myself  unto  the 
LORD  of  all  creatures.  It  is  he  who  first  created  you  of 
dust,  and  afterwards  of  seed,  and  afterwards  of  coagulated 
blood  ;  and  afterwards  brought  you  forth  infants  out  of  youi 
mothers'  wombs :  then  he  permitteth  you  to  attain  your  age  of 
<ull  strength,  and  afterwards  to  grow  old  men  (but  some  of 
fou  die  before  that  age),  and  to  arrive  at  the  determined 
period  of  your  life  ;  that  perad venture  ye  may  understand. 
It  is  he  who  giveth  life,  and  causeth  to  die :  and  when  he 
decreeth  a  thing,  he  only  saith  unto  it,  Be,  and  it  is.  Dost 
thou  not  observe  those  who  dispute  against  the  signs  of  GOD, 
how  they  are  turned  aside  from  the  true  faith  ?  They  who 
charge  with  falsehood  the  book  of  the  Koran,  and  the  other 
scriptures  and  revealed  doctrines  which  we  have  sent  our 
former  apostles  to  preach,  shall  hereafter  know  their  folly 
when  the  collars  shall  be  on  their  necks,  and  the  chains  ftj 
which  they  shall  be  dragged  into  hell;  then  shall  they  be 
burned  in  the  fire.  And  it  shall  be  said  unto  them,  Where 
are  the  gods  which  ye  associated,  besides  GOD  ?  They  shall 
answer,  They  have  withdrawn  themselves  from  us :  yea,  we 
called  on  nothing  heretofore.  Thus  doth  GOD  lead  the  un- 
believers into  error.  This  hath  befallen  you,  for  that  ye  re- 
joiced insolently  on  earth,  in  that  which  was  false ;  and  for 
that  ye  were  elated  with  immoderate  joy.  Enter  the  gates 
of  hell,  to  remain  therein  forever :  and  wretched  shall  be  the 
^vbode  of  the  haughty !  Wherefore  persevere  with  patience, 
0  Mohammed;  for  the  promise  of  GOD  t»  true.  Whether 


368  AL  KORAN. 

we  cause  thee  to  see  any  part  of  the  punishment  with  which 
we  have  threatened  them,  or  whether  we  cause  thee  to  die 
before  thou  tee  it ;  before  us  shall  they  be  assembled  at  the 
last  day.  We  have  sent  a  great  number  of  apostles  before 
thee ;  the  histories  of  some  of  whom  we  have  related  unto 
thee,  and  the  histories  of  others  of  them  we  have  not  related 
unto  thee :  but  no  apostle  had  the  power  to  produce  a  sign, 
unless  by  the  permission  of  GOD.  When  the  command  of 
GOD,  therefore,  shall  come,  judgment  shall  be  given  with 
truth ;  and  then  shall  they  perish  who  endeavor  to  render 
the  signs  of  God  of  no  effect.  It  is  GOD  who  hath  given 
you  the  cattle,  that  ye  may  ride  on  some  of  them,  and  may 
eat  of  others  of  them ;  (ye  also  receive  other  advantages 
therefrom ; )  and  that  on  them  ye  may  arrive  at  the  business 
proposed  in  your  mind :  and  on  them  are  ye  carried  by  land, 
and  on  ships  by  sea.  And  he  showeth  you  his  signs ;  which, 
therefore,  of  the  signs  of  GOD,  will  ye  deny  ?  Do  they  not 
pass  through  the  earth,  and  see  what  hath  been  the  end  of 
those  who  were  before  them?  They  were  more  numerous 
than  these,  and  more  mighty  in  strength,  and  left  more  con- 
siderable monuments  of  their  power  in  the  earth :  yet  that 
which  they  had  acquired  profited  them  not.  And  when  their 
apostles  came  unto  them  with  evident  proofs  of  their  mission, 
they  rejoiced  in  the  knowledge  which  was  with  them :  but 
that  which  they  mocked  at  encompassed  them.  And  when 
they  beheld  our  vengeance,  they  said,  We  believe  in  GOD 
alone,  and  we  renounce  the  idols  which  we  associated  with 
him :  but  their  faith  availed  them  not,  after  they  had  be- 
holden our  vengeance.  This  wot  the  ordinance  of  GOD, 
which  was  formerly  observed  in  respect  to  his  servants 
Had  then  did  the  unbelievers  perish. 


AL  KORAJT.  369 


CHAPTER  XLL 

INTITLED,   ABE    DISTINCTLY    EXPLAINED  ;    REVEALED    At 
MECCA. 

IN    THE    NAME    OF    THK    MOST   MEBCIFUL   GOD. 

H.  M.  THIS  it  a  revelation  from  the  most  Merciful ;  a 
book,  the  verses  whereof  are  distinctly  explained,  an  Arabic  Ko- 
ran, for  the  instruction  of  people  who  understand ;  bearing  good 
tidings,  and  denouncing  threats :  but  the  greater  part  of  them 
turr.  aside,  and  hearken  not  thereto.  And  they  say,  Our 
hearts  are  veiled  from  the  doctrine  to  which  thou  invitest  us ; 
and  there  is  a  deafness  in  our  ears,  and  a  curtain  between  us 
and  thee  :  wherefore  act  thou  as  thou  shalt  think  Jit;  for  we 
shall  act  according  to  our  own  sentiments.  Say,  Verily  I  am 
only  a  man  like  you.  It  is  revealed  unto  me,  that  your  GOD 
is  one  GOD  :  wherefore  direct  your  way  straight  unto  him ; 
and  ask  pardon  of  him  for  what  is  past.  And  woe  be  to  the 
idolaters :  who  give  not  the  appointed  alms,  and  believe  not 
in  the  life  to  come  !  But  a*  to  those  who  believe  and  work 
righteousness,  they  shall  receive  an  everlasting  reward. 
Say,  Do  ye  indeed  disbelieve  in  him  who  created  the  earth 
in  two  days  ;  and  do  ye  set  up  equals  unto  him  ?  He  is  the 
LORD  of  all  creatures.  And  he  placed  in  the  earth  moun- 
tains firmly  rooted,  rising  above  the  same :  and  he  blessed 
it ;  and  provided  therein  the  food  of  the  creatures  designed  to 
be  the  inhabitants  thereof,  in  four  days ;  equally,  for  those 
who  ask.  Then  he  set  his  mind  to  the  creation  of  heaven, 
and  it  was  smoke;  and  he  said  unto  it,  and  to  the  earth, 
Come,  either  obediently,  or  against  your  will.1  They  an- 
swered, We  come,  obedient  to  thy  command.  And  he  formed 
them  into  seven  heavens,  in  two  days ;  and  revealed  unto 
every  heaven  its  office.  And  we  adorned  the  lower  heaven 
with  lights,  and  placed  therein  a  guard  of  angels.  This  it 
the  disposition  of  the  mighty,  the  wise  God.  If  the  Meccant 
withdraw  from  these  instructions,  say,  I  denounce  unto  you  a 
eudden  destruction,  like  the  destruction  of  Ad  and  Thamud. 
When  the  apostles  came  unto  them  before  them  and  behind 
them  laying,  Worship  GOD  alon^ ;  they  answered,  If  our 
84 


870  AL  KOBAH. 

LORD  had  been  pleased  to  send  messengers,  he  had  surely 
sent  angels ;  and  we  believe  not  the  message  with  which  ye 
are  sent.  As  to  the  tribe  of  Ad,  they  behaved  insolently  in 
the  earth,  without  reason,  and  said,  Who  is  more  mighty  than 
we  in  strength  ?  Did  they  not  see  that  GOD,  who  had  cre- 
ated them,  was  more  mighty  than  they  in  strength?  And 
they  knowingly  rejected  our  signs.  Wherefore  we  sent 
against  them  a  piercing  wind,  on  days  of  ill  luck,  that  we 
might  make  them  taste  the  punishment  of  shame  in  this 
world :  but  the  punishment  of  the  life  to  come  will  be  more 
shameful ;  and  they  shall  not  be  protected  therefrom.  And 
as  to  Thamud,  we  directed  them  ;  but  they  loved  blindness 
better  than  the  trite  direction :  wherefore  the  terrible  noise 
of  an  ignominious  punishment  assailed  them,  for  that  which 
they  had  deserved;  but  we  delivered  those  who  believed, 
and  feared  God.  And  -warn  them  of  the  day,  on  which  the 
enemies  of  GOD  shall  be  gathered  together  unto  hell  fire,  and 
shall  march  in  distinct  bands ;  until,  when  they  shall  arrive 
thereat,  their  ears,  and  their  eyes,  and  their  skins,  shall  bear 
witness  against  them  of  that  which  they  shall  have  wrought 
And  they  shall  say  unto  their  skins,  Wherefore  do  ye  bear 
witness  against  us  ?  They  shall  answer,  GOD  hath  caused 
us  to  speak,  who  giveth  speech  unto  all  things :  he  created 
you  the  first  time ;  and  unto  him  are  ye  returned.  Ye  did 
not  hide  yourselves,  while  ye  sinned,  so  that  your  ears,  and 
your  eyes,  and  your  skins  could  not  bear  witness  against  you : 
but  ye  thought  that  GOD  was  ignorant  of  many  things  which 
ye  did.  This  was  your  opinion,  which  ye  imagined  of  your 
LOKD  :  it  hath  ruined  you ;  and  ye  are  become  lost  people* 
Whether  they  bear  their  torment,  hell  fire  shall  be  their  abode ; 
or  whether  they  beg  for  favor,  they  shall  not  obtain  favor. 
And  we  will  give  them  the  devils  to  be  their  companions  ;  for 
they  dressed  up  for  them  the  false  notions  which  they  enter- 
tained of  this  present  wojfld,  and  of  that  which  is  to  come  ; 
and  the  sentence  justly  fitteth  them,  which  was  formerly 
pronounced  on  the  nations  of  genii  and  men  who  were 
befoEe  them;  for  they  perished.  The  unbelievers  say, 
Hearken  not  unto  this  Koran :  but  use  vain  discourse  during 
the  reading  thereof;  that  ye  may  overcome  the  voice  of  the 
reader  by  your  scoff's  and  laughter.  Wherefore  we  will 
•urely  cause  the  unbelievers  to  taste  a  grievous  punishment, 
and  we  will  certainly  reward  them  for  the  evils  which  they 


AL  KOBAN.  371 

•hall  have  wrought.  This  shall  be  the  reward  of  the  en« 
mies  of  GOD,  namely,  hell  fire  ;  therein  it  prepared  for  them 
an  everlasting  abode,  as  a  reward  for  that  they  have  wittingly 
rejected  our  signs.  And  the  infidels  shall  say  tn  hell,  0 
LORD,  show  us  the  two  that  seduced  us,  of  the  genii  and 
men,  and  we  will  cast  them  under  our  feet,  that  they  may 
become  most  base  and  despicable.  As  for  those  who  say, 
Our  LORD  is  GOD,  and  who  behave  uprightly ;  the  angels 
shall  descend  unto  them,  and  shall  say,  Fear  not,  neither  be 
ye  grieved ;  but  rejoice  in  the  hopes  of  paradise  which  ye 
have  been  promised.  We  are  your  friends  in  this  life,  and 
in  that  which  is  to  come :  therein  shall  ye  have  that  which 
your  souls  shall  desire,  and  therein  shall  ye  obtain  whatever 
ye  shall  ask  for ;  as  a  gift  from  a  gracious  and  merciful  God. 
Who  speaketh  better  than  he  who  inviteth  unto  GOD,  and 
worketh  righteousness,  and  saith,  I  am  a  Moslem?  Good 
and  evil  shall  not  be  held  equal.  Turn  away  evil  with  that 
which  is  better ;  and  behold,  the  man  between  whom  and 
thyself  there  was  enmity  shall  become,  as  it  were,  thy  warmest 
friend :  but  none  shall  attain  to  this  perfection,  except  they 
who  are  patient ;  nor  shall  any  attain  thereto,  except  he  who 
is  endued  with  a  great  happiness  of  temper.  And  if  a  mali- 
cious suggestion  be  offered  unto  thee  from  Satan,  have  re- 
course unto  GOD  ;  for  it  is  he  who  heareth  and  knoweth. 
Among  the  signs  of  his  power  are  the  night,  and  the  day, 
and  the  sun,  and  the  moon.  Worship  not  the  sun,  neither 
the  moon :  but  worship  GOD,  who  hath  created  them ;  if  ye 
serve  him.  But  if  they  proudly  disdain  his  service  ;  verily 
the  angels,  who  are  with  thy  LORD,  praise  him  night  and 
day,  and  are  not  wearied.  And  among  his  signs  another  is, 
that  thou  seest  the  land  waste ;  but  when  we  send  down  rain 
thereon,  it  is  stirred  and  fermenteth.  And  he  who  quicken- 
eth  the  earth  will  surely  quicken  the  dead;  for  he  is  al- 
mighty. Verily  those  who  impiously  wrong  our  signs  are 
not  conceuled  from  us.  Is  he,  therefore,  better,  who  shall  be 
cast  into  hell  fire,  or  he  who  shall  appear  secure  on  the  day 
of  resurrection  ?  Work  that  which  ye  will :  he  certainly  be- 
holdeth  whatever  ye  do.  Verily  they  who  believe  not  in  the 
admonition  of  the  Koran,  after  it  hath  come  unto  them,  shall 
one  day  be  discovered.  It  it  certainly  a  book  of  infinite  value : 
vanity  shall  not  approach  it,  either  from  before  it,  or  from 
behind  it :  it  is  a  revelation  from  a  wise  God,  whose  praise 


872  '  AL  KORAN. 

is  justly  to  be  celebrated.  No  other  is  said  unto  thee  by  tkt 
infidels  of  Mecca  than  what  hath  been  formerly  said  unto  the 
apostles  before  thee  :  verily  thy  LOKD  is  inclined  to  forgive- 
ness, and  is  also  able  to  chastise  severely.  If  we  had  revealed 
the  Koran  in  a  foreign  language,  they  had  surely  said,  Unless 
the  signs  thereof  be  distinctly  explained,  we  will  not  receive 
the  same :  is  the  book  written  in  a  foreign  tongue,  and  the 
person  unto  whom  it  is  directed  an  Arabian  ?  Answer,  It  is, 
unto  those  who  believe,  a  sure  guide,  and  a  remedy  for  doubt 
and  uncertainty:  but  unto  those  who  believe  not,  it  is  a 
thickness  of  hearing  in  their  ears,  and  it  is  a  darkness  which 
covereth  them  ;  these  are  as  they  who  are  called  unto  from 
a  distant  place.  We  heretofore  gave  the  book  of  the  law 
unto  Moses  ;  and  a  dispute  arose  concerning  the  same :  and 
if  a  previous  decree  had  not  proceeded  from  thy  LORD,  to 
respite  the  opposers  of  that  revelation,  verily  the  matter  had 
been  decided  between  them,  by  the  destruction  of  the  infidels ; 
for  they  were  in  a  very  great  doubt  as  to  the  same.  He 
who  doth  right,  doth  it  to  the  advantage  of  his  own  soul ;  and 
he  who  doth  evil,  doth  it  against  the  same :  for  thy  LORD  is 
not  unjust  towards  his  servants.  Unto  him  is  reserved  the 
knowledge  of  the  hour  of  judgment :  and  no  fruit  cometh 
forth  from  the  knops  which  involve  it ;  neither  doth  any 
female  conceive  in  her  womb,  nor  is  she  delivered  of  her  bur- 
den, but  with  his  knowledge.  On  the  day  whereon  he  shall 
call  them  to  him,  saying,  Where  are  my  companions  which 
ye  ascribed  unto  me  ?  they  shall  answer,  We  assure  thee  there 
is  no  witness  of  this  matter  among  us :  and  the  idols  which 
they  called  on  before  shall  withdraw  themselves  from  them  ; 
and  they  shall  perceive  that  there  will  be  no  way  to  escape. 
Man  is  not  wearied  with  asking  good ;  but  if  evil  befall  him, 
he  despondeth,  and  despaireth.  And  if  we  cause  him  to 
taste  mercy  from  us,  after  affliction  hath  touched  him,  he 
surely  saith,  This  is  due  to  me  on  account  of  my  deserts:  I 
4o  not  think  the  hour  of  judgment  will  ever  come:  and  if  I 
be  brought  before  my  LORD,  I  shall  surely  attain,  with  him, 
the  most  excellent  condition.  But  we  will  then  declare  unto 
those  who  shall  not  have  believed,  that  which  they  have 
wrought ;  and  we  will  surely  cause  them  to  taste  a  most 
severe  punishment.  When  we  confer  favors  on  man,  he 
turneth  aside,  and  departeth  without  returning  thanks:  but 
when  evil  toucheth  him,  he  is  frequent  at  prayer.  Say 


AL  KORAN.  37? 

What  think  ye  ?  if  the  Koran  be  from  GOD,  and  ye  believe 
not  therein ;  who  will  lie  under  a  greater  error,  than  he  who 
dissenteth  widely  therefrom  ?  Hereafter  we  will  show  them 
our  signs  in  the  regions  of  the  earth,  and  in  themselves ;  until 
it  become  manifest  unto  them  that  this  book  is  the  truth.  la 
it  not  sufficient  for  thee  that  thy  LORD  is  witness  of  all 
things  ?  Are  they  not  in  a  doubt  as  to  the  meeting  of  their 
LORD  at  the  resurrection?  Doth  not  he  encompass  all 
things? 


CHAPTER  XLIL 

nCTITLED,    CONSULTATION  ;    REVEALED    AT   MECCA. 

IK  THE  NAME  Of  THE  MOST  MHKOIFUL  GOD. 

H.  M.  A.  S.  K.  THUS  doth  the  mighty,  the  wise  GOD 
reveal  his  will  unto  thee  ;  and  in  like  manner  did  he  reveal 
it  unto  the  prophets  who  were  before  thee.  Unto  him  belong- 
«th  whatever  is  in  heaven,  and  in  earth  ;  and  he  is  the  high, 
the  great  God.  It  wanteth  little  but  that  the  heavens  be 
rent  in  sunder  from  above,  at  the  awfulness  of  his  majesty : 
the  angels  celebrate  the  praise  of  their  LORD,  and  ask  par- 
don for  those  who  dwell  in  the  earth.  Is  not  GOD  the  for- 
giyer  of  sins,  the  merciful  ?  But  as  to  those  who  take  other 
gods  for  their  patrons,  besides  him,  GOD  observeth  their 
actions:  for  thou  art  not  a  steward  over  them.  Thus  have 
we  revealed  unto  thee  an  Arabic  Koran,  that  thou  mayest 
warn  the  metropolis  of  Mecca,  and  the  Arabs  who  dwell 
round  about  it ;  and  mayest  threaten  them  with  the  day  of 
the  general  assembly,  of  which  there  is  no  doubt :  one  part 
shall  then  be  placed  in  paradise,  and  another  part  in  helL  If 
GOD  had  pleased,  he  had  made  them  all  of  one  religion  ;  but 
he  leadeth  whom  he  pleaseth  into  his  mercy  ;  and  the  unjust 
shall  have  no  patron  or  helper.  Do  they  take  other  patrons, 
besides  him  ?  whereas  GOD  is  the  only  true  patron :  he 
quickeneth  the  dead ;  and  he  is  almighty.  Whatever  mat- 
ter ye  disagree  about,  the  decision  thereof  appertaineth  unto 
GOD.  This  is  GOD,  my  LORD  :  in  him  do  I  trust, 


d74  AL 

and  ulto  him  do  I  turn  me:  the  Creator  of  heaven  and 
earth :  he  hath  given  you  wives  of  your  own  species,  and 
cattle  both  male  and  female;  by  which  means  he  multi- 
plieth  you  :  there  is  nothing  like  him  ;  and  it  is  he  who  hear- 
eth  and  seeth.  His  are  the  keys  of  heaven  and  earth  ;  he 
bestoweth  provision  abundantly  on  whom  he  pleaseth,  and  he 
is  sparing  unto  whom  he  pleaseth  ;  for  he  knoweth  all  things. 
He  hath  ordained  you  the  religion  which  he  commanded 
Noah,  and  which  we  have  revealed  unto  thee,  0  Mohammed, 
•nd  which  we  commanded  Abraham,  and  Moses,  and  Jesus : 
faying,  Observe  this  religion,  and  be  not  divided  therein. 
The  worship  of  one  God,  to  which  thou  invitest  them,  is 
grievous  unto  the  unbelievers :  GOD  will  elect  thereto  whom 
he  pleaseth,  and  will  direct  unto  the  same  him  who  shall  re- 
pent Those  who  lived  in  times  past  were  not  divided  among 
themselves,  until  after  that  the  knowledge  of  God's  unity 
had  come  unto  them ;  through  their  own  perverseness :  and 
unless  a  previous  decree  had  passed  from  thy  LORD,  to  bear 
with  them  till  a  determined  time,  verily  the  matter  had  been 
decided  between  them,  by  the  destruction  of  the  gainsayers. 
They  who  have  inherited  the  scriptures  after  them  are  cer- 
tainly in  a  perplexing  doubt  concerning  the  same.  Where- 
fore invite  them  to  receive  the  sure  faith,  and  be  urgent  with 
them,  as  thou  hast  been  commanded ;  and  follow  not  their 
vain  desires :  and  say,  I  believe  in  all  the  scriptures  which 
GOD  hath  sent  down ;  and  I  am  commanded  to  establish 
justice  among  you  :  GOD  is  our  LORD  and  your  LORD  : 
unto  us  will  our  works  be  imputed,  and  unto  you  will  your 
works  be  imputed:  let  there  be  no  wrangling  between  us  and 
you  ;  for  GOD  will  assemble  us  all  at  the  last  day,  and  unto 
him  shall  we  return.  As  to  those  who  dispute  concerning 
GOD,  after  obedience  hath  been  paid  him  by  receiving  hi$ 
religion,  their  disputing  shall  be  vain  in  the  sight  of  their 
LORD  ;  and  wrath  shall  fall  on  them,  and  they  shall  suffer  a 
grievous  punishment.  It  is  GOD  who  hath  sent  down  the 
scripture  with  truth  ;  and  the  balance  of  true  judgment  : 
and  what  shall  inform  thee  whether  the  hour  be  nigh  at  hand  ? 
They  who  believe  not  therein  wish  it  to  be  hastened  by  way 
of  mockery :  but  they  who  believe  dread  the  same,  and  know 
it  to  be  the  truth.  Are  not  those  who  dispute  concerning 
the  last  hour  in  a  wide  error  ?  GOD  is  bounteous  unto 
his  servants :  he  provideth  for  whom  he  pleaseth  ;  and  he 


AL  KORAN.  875 

is  the  strong,  the  mighty.  Whoso  chooseth  the  tillage  of  the 
life  to  come,  unto  him  will  we  give  increase  in  his  tillage : 
and  whoso  chooseth  the  tillage  of  this  world,  we  will  give 
him  the  fruit  thereof;  but,  he  shall  have  no  part  in  the  life 
to  come.  Have  the  idolaters  deities  which  ordain  them  a 
religion  which  GOD  hath  not  allowed?  But  had  it  not 
been  for  the  decree  of  respiting  their  punishment  to  the  day 
of  separating  the  infidels  from  the  true  believers,  judgment 
had  been  already  given  between  them  :  for  the  unjust 
shall  surely  suffer  a  painful  torment  On  that  day  thou 
shalt  see  the  unjust  in  great  terror,  because  of  their  demer- 
its ;  and  the  penalty  thereof  shall  fall  upon  them  :  but  they 
who  believe  and  do  good  works  shall  dwell  in  the  delightful 
meadows  of  paradise ;  they  shall  obtain  whatever  they  shall 
desire,  with  their  LORD.  This  is  the  greatest  acquisition. 
This  it  what  GOD  promiseth  unto  his  servants  who  believe 
and  do  good  works.  Say,  I  ask  not  of  you,  for  this  my 
preaching,  any  reward,  except  the  love  of  my  relations :  and 
whoever  shall  have  deserved  well  by  one  good  action,  unto 
him  will  we  add  the  merit  of  another  action  thereto  ;  for 
GOD  it  inclined  to  forgive,  and  ready  to  reward.  Do  they 
say,  Mohammed  hath  blasphemously  forged  a  lie  concerning 
GOD?  If  GOD  pleaseth,  he  will  seal  up  thy  heart:  and 
GOD  will  absolutely  abolish  vanity,  and  will  establish  the 
truth  in  his  words;  for  he  knoweth  the  innermost  part  of 
men's  breasts.  It  it  he  who  accepteth  repentance  from  hia 
servants,  and  forgive th  sins,  and  knoweth  that  which  ye  do. 
He  will  incline  his  ear  unto  those  who  believe  and  work 
righteousness,  and  will  add  unto  them  above  what  they  thaU 
ask  or  deserve,  of  his  bounty :  but  the  unbelievers  shall  suffer 
a  severe  punishment.  If  GOD  should  bestow  abundance 
upon  his  servants  they  would  certainly  behave  insolently  in 
the  earth :  but  he  sendeth  down  by  measure  unto  every  one 
that  which  he  pleaseth  ;  for  he  well  knoweth  and  seeth  the 
condition  of  his  servants.  It  is  he  who  sendeth  down  the 
rain,  after  men  have  despaired  thereof,  and  spreadeth  abroad  hia 
mercy  ;  and  he  is  the  patron,  justly  to  be  praised.  Among 
his  signs  it  the  creation  of  heaven  and  earth,  and  of  the  liv- 
ing creatures  with  which  he  hath  replenished  them  both ;  and 
ie  it  able  to  gather  them  together  before  his  tribunal,  when- 
ever he  pleaseth.  Whatever  misfortune  befalleth  you  it  tent 
unto  you  by  God,  for  that  which  your  hands  have  deserved  ; 


876  AL  KORAN. 

and  yet  he  forgiveth  many  things :  ye  shall  not  frustrate  tkt 
divine  vengeance  in  the  earth ;  neither  shall  ye  have  any  pro- 
tector or  helper,  against  GOD.  Among  his  signs  also  are  the 
thips  running  in  the  sea,  like  high  mountains  :  if  he  pleaseth, 
he  causeth  the  wind  to  cease,  and  they  lie  still  on  the  back 
of  the  water :  (verily  herein  are  signs  unto  every  patient  and 
grateful  person) :  or  he  destroyeth  them  by  shipwreck,  be 
cause  of  that  which  their  crews  have  merited ;  though  hi 
pardoneth  many  things.  And  they  who  dispute  against  oui 
signs  shall  know  that  there  witt  be  no  way  for  them  to  escape 
our  vengeance.  Whatever  things  are  given  you,  they  are  the 
provision  of  this  present  life :  but  the  reward  which  is  with 
GOD  is  better,  and  more  durable,  for  those  who  believe,  and  put 
their  trust  in  their  LORD  ;  and  who  avoid  heinous  and  filthy 
crimes,  and  when  they  are  angry,  forgive  ;  and  who  hearken 
unto  their  LORD,  and  are  constant  at  prayer,  and  whose  affairs 
are  directed  by  consultation  among  themselves,  and  who  give 
alms  out  of  what  we  have  bestowed  on  them  ;  and  who,  when 
an  injury  is  done  them,  avenge  themselves  (and  the  retali- 
ation of  evil  ought  to  be  an  evil  proportionate  thereto) :  but  he 
who  forgiveth  and  is  reconciled  unto  his  enemy,  shall  receive 
his  reward  from  GOD  ;  for  he  loveth  not  the  unjust  doers.  And 
whoso  shall  avenge  himself,  after  he  hath  been  injured ;  as 
to  these,  it  is  not  lawful  to  punish  them  for  it :  but  it  is  only 
lawful  to  punish  those  who  wrong  men,  and  act  insolently  in 
the  earth,  against  justice;  these  shall  suffer  a  grievous  pun- 
ishment. And  whoso  beareth  injuries  patiently,  and  forgiv- 
eth ;  verily  this  is  a  necessary  work.  Whom  GOD  shall 
cause  to  err,  he  shall  afterwards  have  no  protector.  And 
thou  shalt  see  the  ungodly,  who  shall  say,  when  they  behold 
the  punishment  prepared  for  them,  Is  there  no  way  to  return 
back  into  the  world  f  And  thou  shalt  see  them  exposed  unto 
hell  jire  ;  dejected,  because  of  the  ignominy  they  shall  un- 
dergo :  they  shall  look  at  the  jire  sideways,  and  by  stealth ; 
and  the  true  believers  shall  say,  Verily  the  losers  are  they 
who  have  lost  their  own  souls,  and  their  families,  on  the  day 
of  resurrection  :  shall  not  the  ungodly  continue  in  eternal 
torment?  They  shall  have  no  protectors  to  defend  them 
against  GOD  :  and  whom  GOD  shall  cause  to  err,  he  shall 
find  no  way  to  the  truth.  Hearken  unto  your  LORD,  before 
the  day  come,  which  GOD  will  not  keep  back  :  ye  shall  have 
no  place  of  refuge  on  that  day ;  neither  shall  ye  be  able  to 


AL  KORAN.  377 

deny  your  sins.  But  if  those  to  whom  thou  preachest  turn 
aside  from  thy  admonitions,  verily  we  have  not  sent  thee  to 
be  a  guardian  over  them :  thy  duty  is  preaching  only.  When 
we  cause  man  to  taste  mercy  from  us,  he  rejoiceth  thereat : 
but  if  evil  befall  them,  for  that  which  their  hands  have  for- 
merly committed,  verily  man  becometh  ungrateful.  Unto 
GOD  appertaineth  the  kingdom  of  heaven  and  earth  :  he 
createth  that  which  he  pleaseth ;  he  giveth  females  unto 
whom  he  pleaseth,  and  he  giveth  males  unto  whom  he  pleas- 
eth ;  or  he  giveth  them  males  and  females  jointly :  and  he 
maketh  whom  he  pleaseth  to  be  childless ;  for  he  t*  wise 
and  powerful.  It  is  not  fit  for  man  that  GOD  should  speak 
unto  him  otherwise  than  by  private  revelation,  or  from  be- 
hind a  veil,  or  by  his  sending  of  a  messenger  to  reveal,  by 
his  permission,  that  which  he  pleaseth ;  for  he  is  high  and 
wise.  Thus  have  we  revealed  unto  thee  a  revelation,  by  our 
command.  Thou  didst  not  understand,  before  this,  what  the 
book  of  the  Koran  was,  nor  what  the  faith  was :  but  we  have 
ordained  the  same  for  &  light;  we  will  thereby  direct  such 
of  our  servants  as  we  please :  and  thou  shalt  surely  direct 
them  into  the  right  way,  the  way  of  GOD,  unto  whom  belong- 
eth  whatever  is  in  heaven  and  in  earth.  Shall  not  all  things 
return  unto  GOD  ? 


CHAPTER   XT.TTT. 

THE  ORNAMENTS  OF  GOLD;  REVEALED  AT 
MECCA. 

IB    THE    KAMK    OF    THE    MOST    MERCIFUL   OOD. 

H.  M.  BT  the  perspicuous  book  ;  verily  we  have  ordained 
tho  same  an  Arabic  Koran  that  ye  may  understand :  and  it  is 
certainly  written  in  the  original  book,  kept  with  us,  being  sub- 
lime and  full  of  wisdom.  Shall  we  therefore  turn  away  from 
you  the  admonition,  and  deprive  you  thereof,  because  ye  are 
a  people  who  transgress  ?  And  how  many  prophets  have  we 
sent  among  those  of  old  ?  and  no  prophet  came  unto  them, 
but  they  laughed  him  to  scorn :  wherefore  we  destroyed  na- 
tions who  were  more  mighty  than  these  in  strength ;  and  tha 


878  AL  KORAN. 

example  of  those  who  were  of  old  hath  been  already  tet  befort 
them.  If  thou  ask  them  who  created  the  heavens  and  the 
earth,  they  will  certainly  answer,  The  mighty,  the  wise  God 
created  them :  who  hath  spread  the  earth  as  a  bed  for  you, 
and  hath  made  you  paths  therein,  that  ye  may  be  directed : 
and  who  sendeth  down  rain  from  heaven  by  measure,  where- 
by we  quicken  a  dead  country ;  (so  shall  ye  be  brought  forth 
from  your  graves:)  and  who  hath  created  all  the  various 
species  of  things,  and  hath  given  you  ships  and  cattle,  where- 
on ye  are  carried ;  that  ye  may  sit  firmly  on  the  backs  thereof, 
and  may  remember  the  favor  of  your  LORD,  when  ye  sit 
thereon,  and  may  say,  Praise  be  unto  him,  who  hath  sub- 
jected these  unto  our  service  !  for  we  could  not  have  mas- 
tered them  by  our  own  power :  and  unto  our  LORD  shall  we 
surely  return.  Yet  have  they  attributed  unto  him  some  of 
his  servants  as  his  offspring  :  verily  man  is  openly  ungrate- 
ful. Hath  God  taken  daughters  out  of  those  beings  which  he 
hath  created  ;  and  hath  he  chosen  sons  for  you  ?  But  when 
one  of  them  hath  the  news  brought  of  the  birth  of  a  child  of 
that  sex  which  they  attribute  unto  the  Merciful,  as  his  simil- 
itude, his  face  becometh  black,  and  he  is  oppressed  with 
sorrow.  Do  they  therefore  attribute  unto  God  female  issue> 
which  are  brought  up  among  ornaments,  and  are  contentious 
without  cause  ?  And  do  they  make  the  angels,  who  are  the 
servants  of  the  Merciful,  females  ?  Were  they  present  at 
their  creation  ?  Their  testimony  shall  be  written  down,  and 
they  shall  be  examined  concerning  the  same,  on  the  day  of 
judgment.  And  they  say,  If  the  Merciful  had  pleased,  we 
had  not  worshipped  them. .  They  have  no  knowledge  herein : 
they  only  utter  a  vain  lie.  Have  we  given  them  a  book  of 
revelations  before  this  ;  and  do  they  keep  the  same  in  their 
custody  ?  But  they  say,  Verily  we  found  our  fathers  prac- 
tising a  religion ;  and  we  are  guided  in  their  footsteps.  Thua 
we  sent  no  preacher  before  thee,  unto  any  city,  but  the  in- 
habitants thereof  who  lived  in  affluence,  said,  Verily  we  found 
our  fathers  practising  a  religion  :  and  we  tread  in  their  foot- 
steps. And  the  preacher  answered,  What,  although  I  bring 
you  a  more  right  religion  than  that  which  ye  found  your 
lathers  to  practise  ?  And  they  replied,  Verily  we  believe 
not  that  which  ye  are  sent  to  preach.  Wherefore  we  took 
vengeance  on  them:  and  behold  what  hath  been  the  end 
«f  those  who  accused  our  apostles  of  imposture.  Remember 


AL  KORAH.  879 

when  Abraham  said  unto  his  father,  and  his  people,  Verily 
I  am  clear  of  the  gods  which  ye  worship,  except  him  who 
hath  created  me ;  for  he  will  direct  me  aright.  And  he  or- 
dained this  to  be  &  constant  doctrine  among  his  posterity ; 
that  tbey  should  be  turned  from  idolatry  to  the  worship 
of  the,  only  true  God.  Verily  I  have  permitted  these  Mec- 
cans  and  their  fathers  to  live  in  prosperity,  until  the  truth 
should  come  unto  them,  and  a  manifest  apostle  :  but  now 
the  truth  is  come  unto  them,  they  say,  This  is  a  piece  of 
sorcery ;  and  we  believe  not  therein.  And  they  say,  Had 
this  Koran  been  sent  down  unto  some  great  man  of  either  of 
the  two  cities,  we  would  have  received  it.  Do  they  distribute 
the  mercy  of  thy  LORD  ?  We  distribute  the  necessary  pro- 
vision among  them,  in  this  present  life,  and  we  raise  some  of 
them  several  degrees  above  the  others,  that  the  one  of  them 
may  take  the  other  to  serve  him :  and  the  mercy  of  thy 
LORD  is  more  valuable  than  the  riches  which  they  gather  to- 
gether. If  it  were  not  that  mankind  would  have  become  one 
sect  of  infidels,  verily  we  had  given  unto  those  who  believe 
not  in  the  Merciful,  roofs  of  silver  to  their  houses,  and  stairs 
of  silver,  by  which  they  might  ascend  thereto,  and  doors  of 
tilver  to  their  houses,  and  couches  of  silver,  for  them  to  lean 
on  ;  and  ornaments  of  gold  :  for  all  this  is  the  provision  of 
the  present  life ;  but  the  next  life  with  thy  LORD  shall  be  for 
those  who  fear  him.  Whoever  shall  withdraw  from  the  ad- 
monition of  the  Merciful,  we  will  chain  a  devil  unto  him ; 
and  he  shall  be  his  inseparable  companion  :  (and  the  devils 
shall  turn  them  aside  from  the  way  of  truth  ;  yet  they  shall 
imagine  themselves  to  be  rightly  directed:)  until,  when  he 
shall  appear  before  us  at  the  last  day,  he  shall  say  unto  the 
devil,  Would  to  GOD  that  between  me  and  thee  there  was  the 
distance  of  the  east  from  the  west !  Oh  how  wretched  a  com- 
panion art  thou  !  But  wishes  shall  not  avail  you  on  this  day, 
since  ye  have  been  unjust ;  for  ye  shall  be  partakers  of  the 
\arne  punishment.  Canst  thou,  0  prophet,  make  the  deaf  to 
hear,  or  canst  thou  direct  the  blind,  and  him  who  is  in  a  man- 
ifest error  ?  Whether  we  take  thee  away,  we  will  surely 
take  vengeance  on  them  ;  or  whether  we  cause  thee  to  see  the 
punishment  with  which  we  have  threatened  them  executed,  we 
will  certainly  prevail  over  them.  Wherefore  hold  fast  the 
doctrine  which  hath  been  revealed  unto  thee ;  for  thou  art  in 
%  right  way  :  and  it  is  a  memorial  unto  thee  and  thy  people, 


380  AJL  KORAN. 

and  hereafter  shall  ye  be  examined  concerning  your '  observ* 
ance  thereof.  And  ask  our  apostles  whom  we  have  sent  be- 
fore thee,  whether  we  have  appointed  gods  for  them  to  wor- 
ship, besides  the  Merciful.  We  formerly  sent  Moses  with 
our  signs  unto  Pharaoh  and  his  princes,  and  he  said,  Verily 
I  am  the  apostle  of  the  LORD  of  all  creatures.  And  when 
he  came  unto  them  with  our  signs,  behold,  they  laughed  him 
to  scorn ;  although  we  showed  them  no  sign,  but  it  was 
greater  than  the  other:  and  we  inflicted  a  punishment  on 
them,  that  peradventure  they  might  be  converted.  And 
they  said  unto  Moses,  0  magician,  pray  unto  thy  LORD  for 
us,  according  to  the  covenant  which  he  hath  made  with  thee; 
for  we  wiU  certainly  be  directed.  But  when  we  took  the 
plague  from  off  them,  behold,  they  brake  their  promise. 
And  Pharaoh  made  proclamation  among  his  people,  saying, 
O  my  people,  is  not  the  kingdom  of  Egypt  mine,  and  these 
rivers,  which  flow  beneath  me  ?  Do  ye  not  see  ?  Am  not  1 
better  than  this  Moses,  who  is  a  contemptible  person,  and  can 
scarce  express  himself  intelligibly  ?  Have  bracelets  of  gold, 
therefore,  been  put  upon  him  ;  or  do  the  angels  attend  him 
in  orderly  procession  ?  And  Pharaoh  persuaded  his  people 
to  light  behavior ;  and  they  obeyed  him :  for  they  were  a 
wicked  people.  And  when  they  had  provoked  us  to  wrath, 
we  took  vengeance  on  them :  and  we  drowned  them  all : 
and  we  made  them  a  precedent,  and  an  example  unto  others. 
And  when  the  son  of  Mary  was  proposed  for  an  example, 
behold,  thy  people  cried  out  through  excess  of  joy  thereat ; 
and  they  said,  Are  our  gods  better,  or  he  ?  They  have  pro- 
posed this  instance  unto  thee  no  otherwise  than  for  an  occa- 
sion of  dispute :  yea,  they  are  contentious  men.  Jesus  is 
no  other  than  a  servant,  whom  we  favored  with  the  gift  of 
prophecy ;  and  we  appointed  him  for  an  example  unto  the 
children  of  Israel :  (if  we  pleased,  verily  we  could  from  our- 
selves produce  angels,  to  succeed  you  in  the  earth  : )  and  he 
thatt  be  a  sign  of  the  approach  of  the  last  hour ;  wherefore 
doubt  not  thereof.1  And  follow  me  :  this  is  the  right  way. 
And  let  not  Satan  cause  you  to  turn  aside :  for  he  is  your 
open  enemy.  And  when  Jesus  came  with  evident  miracles, 
he  said,  Now  am  1  come  unto  you  with  wisdom,  and  to  ex- 
plain unto  you  part  of  those  things  concerning  which  ye  dis- 
agree ;  wherefore  fear  GOD,  and  obey  me.  Verily  GOD  is 
«y  LORD,  and  your  LORD  ;  wherefore  worship  him :  this  ti 


AL   KORAN.  881 

the  right  way.  And  the  confederated  sects  among  them  feH 
to  variance:  but  woe  unto  those  who  have  acted  unjustly, 
because  of  the  punishment  of  a  grievous  day.  Do  the  unbe- 
lievers wait  for  any  other  than  the  hour  of  judgment ;  that  it 
may  come  upon  them  suddenly,  while  they  foresee  it  not  ? 
The  intimate  friends,  on  that  day,  shall  be  enemies  unto  one 
another;  except  the  pious.  O  my  servants,  there  shall  no 
fear  come  on  you  this  day,  neither  shall  ye  be  grieved  :  who 
have  believed  in  our  signs,  and  have  been  Moslems  :  enter 
ye  into  paradise,  ye  and  your  wives,  with  great  joy.  Dishes 
of  gold  shall  be  carried  round  unto  them,  and  cups  without 
handles:  and  therein  shall  they  enjoy  whatever  their  souls 
shall  desire,  and  whatever  their  eyes  shall  delight  in :  and  ye 
shall  remain  therein  forever.  This  is  paradise,  which  ye 
have  inherited  as  a  reward  for  that  which  ye  have  wrought. 
Therein  shall  ye  have  fruits  in  abundance,  of  which  ye  shall 
eat  But  the  wicked  shall  remain  forever  in  the  torment  of 
hell :  it  shall  not  be  made  lighter  unto  them ;  and  they  shall 
despair  therein.  We  deal  not  unjustly  with  them,  but  they 
deal  unjustly  with  their  own  souls.  And  they  shall  call  aloud, 
toying,  0  Malec,  intercede  for  us  that  thy  LORD  would  end 
us  by  annihilation.  He  shall  answer,  Verily  ye  shall  remain 
here  forever.  We  brought  you  the  truth  heretofore,  but  the 
greater  part  of  you  abhorred  the  truth.  Have  the  injtdels 
fixed  on  a  method  to  circumvent  our  apostle  f  Verily  we  will 
fix  on  a  method  to  circumvent  them.  Do  they  imagine  that 
we  hear  not  their  secrets,  and  their  private  discourse  ?  Yea ; 
and  our  messengers  who  attend  them  write  down  the  same. 
Say,  If  the  Merciful  had  a  son,  verily  I  would  be  the  first 
of  those  who  should  worship  him.  Far  be  the  LORD  of 
heaven  and  earth,  the  LORD  of  the  throne,  from  that  which 
they  affirm  of  him  !  Wherefore  let  them  wade  in  their  van- 
ity, and  divert  themselves  until  they  arrive  at  their  day 
with  which  they  hav*,  been  threatened.  He  who  is  GOD  in 
heaven,  is  GOD  on  earth  also :  and  he  it  the  wise,  the  know- 
ing. And  blessed  be  he  unto  whom  appertained  the  king- 
dom of  heaven  and  earth,  and  of  whatever  is  between  them ; 
with  whom  is  the  knowledge  of  the  last  hour;  and  before 
krhom  ye  shall  be  assembled.  They  whom  they  invoke  be- 
sides him  have  not  the  privilege  to  intercede  for  others  ;  ex- 
cept those  who  bear  witness  to  the  truth,  and  know  the  same. 
If  thou  ask  them  who  hath  created  them,  they  will  surely 


382  AL  KORAN. 

answer,  GOD.  How  therefore  are  they  turned  away  tt  tht 
worship  of  others?  God  aho  heareth  the  saying  of  the 
prophet,  6  LORD,  verily  these  are  people  who  believe  nDt : 
and  he  answereth,  Therefore  turn  aside  from  them ;  and  say, 
Peace :  hereafter  shall  they  know  their  Jolly. 


CHAPTER  XLTV. 

IMTITLKD,  SMOKE  ;  REVEALED  AT  MKCOA. 

IH    THK     HAMK    OF    THE    MOST    MEHCIFUL   GOD. 

H.  M.  BT  the  perspicuous  book  of  the  Koran ;  verily  we 
have  sent  down  the  same  on  a  blessed  night  (for  we  had  en- 
gaged so  to  do),  on  the  night  wherein  is  distinctly  sent  down 
the  decree  of  every  determined  thing,  at  a  command  from 
us.1  Verily  we  have  ever  used  to  send  apostles  with  revela- 
tions, at  proper  intervals,  as  a  mercy  from  thy  LORD  ;  for  it 
is  he  who  heareth  and  knoweth :  the  LORD  of  heaven  and 
earth,  and  of  whatever  is  between  them ;  if  ye  are  men  of 
sure  knowledge.  There  is  no  GOD  but  he :  he  giveth  life, 
and  he  causeth  to  die ;  he  is  your  LORD,  and  the  LORD  of 
your  forefathers.  Yet  do  they  amuse  themselves  with  doubt. 
But  observe  them,  on  the  day  whereon  the  heavei  shall  pro- 
duce a  visible  smoke,  which  shall  cover  mankind :  this  wiU 
be  a  tormenting  plague.2  They  shall  say,  O  LORD,  take  thi» 
plague  from  off  us :  verily  we  will  become  true  believers, 
How  should  an  admonition  be  of  avail  to  them  in  this  con- 
dition; when  a  manifest  apostle  came  unto  them,  but  they 
retired  from  him,  saying,  This  man  is  instructed  by  others,  or 
is  a  distracted  person  ?  We  will  take  the  plague  from  off 
you,  a  little :  but  ye  will  certainly  return  to  your  iniidelity 
On  the  day  whereon  we  shall  fiercely  assault  them  with  great 
power,  verily  we  will  take  vengeance  on  them.  We  made 
trial  of  the  people  of  Pharaoh  before  them,  and  an  honorable 
messenger  carne  unto  them,  saying,  Send  unto  me  the  ser- 
vants of  GOD  ;  verily  I  am  a  faithful  messenger  unto  you 
and  lift  not  yourselves  up  against  GOD  ;  for  I  come  unto  you 


AL    KORAN.  583 

with  manifest  power.  And  I  fly  for  protection  unto  my 
LORD,  and  your  LORD,  that  ye  stone  me  not.  If  ye  do  not 
believe  me,  at  least  depart  from  me.  And  when  they  accused 
him  of  imposture,  he  called  upon  his  LORD,  saying,  These 
are  a  wicked  people.  And  God  said  unto  him,  March  fortb 
with  my  servants  by  night ;  for  ye  will  be  pursued :  and 
leave  the  sea  divided,  that  the  Egyptians  may  enter  the  same  ; 
for  they  are  a  host  doomed  to  be  drowned.  How  many  gar- 
dens, and  fountains,  and  fields  of  corn,  and  fair  dwellings, 
and  advantages  which  they  enjoyed,  did  they  leave  behind 
them !  Thus  we  dispossessed  them  thereof ;  and  we  gave 
the  same  for  an  inheritance  unto  another  people.  Neither 
heaven  nor  earth  wept  for  them ;  neither  were  they  respited 
any  longer.  And  we  delivered  the  children  of  Israel  from  a 
shameful  affliction  ;  from  Pharaoh  ;  for  he  was  haughty,  and 
a  transgressor :  and  we  chose  them,  knowingly,  above  aU 
people ;  and  we  showed  them  several  signs,  wherein  was  an 
evident  trial.  Verily  these  Meccans  say,  Assuredly  our  final 
end  will  be  no  other  than  our  first  natural  death ;  neither 
shall  we  be  raised  again:  bring  now  our  forefathers  back  to 
life,  if  ye  speak  truth.  Are  they  better,  or  the  people  of 
Tobba,  and  those  who  were  before  them  ?  we  destroyed  them, 
because  they  wrought  wickedness.  We  have  not  created  the 
heavens  and  the  earth,  and  whatever  is  between  them,  by 
way  of  sport :  we  have  created  them  no  otherwise  than  in 
truth ;  but  the  greater  part  of  them  do  not  understand.  Ver- 
ily the  day  of  separation  shall  be  the  appointed  term  of  them 
all :  a  day,  whereon  the  master  and  the  servant  shall  be  of  no 
advantage  to  one  another,  neither  shall  they  be  helped ;  ex- 
cepting those  on  whom  GOD  shall  have  mercy ;  for  he  if  the 
mighty,  the  merciful.  Verily,  the  fruit  o/'the  tree  of  al  Zak- 
kum  shall  bt  the  food  of  the  impious ;  as  the  dregs  of  oil 
shall  it  boil  in  the  bellies  of  the  damned,  like  the  boiling  of 
the  hottest  water.  And  it  shall  be  said  to  the  tormentors, 
Take  him,  and  drag  him  into  the  midst  of  hell :  and  pour  on 
bis  head  the  torture  of  boiling  water,  saying,  Taste  this  ;  for 
thou  art  that  mighty  and  honorable  person.  Verily  this  is 
the  punishment  of  which  ye  doubted.  But  the  pious  thall  be 
lodged  in  a  place  of  security,  among  gardens  and  fountains : 
they  shall  be  clothed  in  fine  silk,  and  in  satin  ;  and  they  shall 
tit  facing  one  another.  Thus  shall  it  be:  and  we  will  espouse 
them  to  fair  damsels,  having  large  black  eyes.  In  that  plac« 


884  AL  KORAN. 

shall  they  call  for  all  kinds  of  fruits,  in  full  security :  they 
shall  not  taste  death  therein,  after  the  first  death ;  and  God 
shall  deliver  from  the  pains  of  hell :  through  the  gracious 
bounty  of  thy  LORD.  This  will  be  great  felicity.  Moreover 
we  have  rendered  the  Koran  easy  for  thee,  by  revealing  it  in 
thine  own  tongue  ;  to  the  end  that  they  may  be  admonished  : 
wherefore  do  thou  wait  the  event ;  for  they  wait  to  tee  SOTM 
misfortune  befall  thee. 


CHAPTER  XLV. 

IHTITLED,   THE   KNEELING;    REVEALED    AT   MECCA. 
IH    THB   FAME    OF   THE   MOST   MERCIFUL   GOD. 

H.  M.  THE  revelation  of  this  book  is  from  the  mighty, 
the  wise  GOD.  Verily  both  in  heaven  and  earth  are  signs 
of  the  divine  power  unto  the  true  believers  :  and  in  the  crea- 
tion of  yourselves,  and  of  the  beasts  which  are  scattered  over 
the  face  of  the  earth,  are  signs  unto  people  of  sound  judg- 
ment ;  and  also  in  the  vicissitude  of  night  and  day,  and  the 
rain  which  GOD  sendeth  down  from  heaven,  whereby  he 
quickeneth  the  earth  after  it  hath  been  dead :  in  the  change 
of  the  winds  also  are  signs  unto  people  of  understanding. 
These  are  the  signs  of  GOD  ;  we  rehearse  them  unto  thee 
with  truth.  In  what  revelation  therefore  will  they  believe, 
after  they  have  rejected  GOD  and  his  signs  ?  Woe  unto  every 
lying  and  impious  person ;  who  heareth  the  signs  of  GOD, 
which  are  read  unto  him,  and  afterwards  proudly  persisteth 
in  infidelity,  as  though  he  heard  them  not:  (denounce  unto 
him  a  painful  punishment :)  and  who,  when  he  cometh  to  the 
knowledge  of  any  of  our  signs,  receiveth  the  same  with 
scorn.  For  these  is  prepared  a  shameful  punishment :  be- 
fore them  lieth  hell ;  and  whatever  they  shall  have  gained 
shall  not  avail  them  at  all,  neither  shall  the  idols  which  they 
have  taken  for  their  patrons,  besides  GOD  ;  and  they  shall 
suffer  a  grievous  punishment.  This  is  a  true  direction  :  and 
for  those  who  disbelieve  the  signs  of  their  LORD,  is  prepared 
the  punishment  of  a  painful  torment.  It  t*  GOD  who  hath 


AL  KORAN.  883 

subjected  the  sea  unto  you,  that  the  ships  may  sail  therein, 
at  his  command ;  and  that  ye  may  seek  advantage  unto  your' 
wives  by  commerce,  of  his  bounty;  and  that  ye  may  givt 
thanks :  and  he  obligeth  whatever  is  in  heaven  and  on  earth 
to  serve  you  ;  the  whole  being  from  him.  Verily  herein  are 
signs  unto  people  who  consider.  Speak  unto  the  true  be- 
lievers, that  they  forgive  those  who  hope  not  for  the  days  of 
GOD,  t^at  he  may  reward  people  according  to  what  they 
shall  ha\c  wrought.  Whoso  doeth  that  which  is  right  doth  it 
to  the  advantage  of  his  own  soul ;  and  whoso  doeth  evil  doth 
it  against  the  same :  hereafter  shall  ye  return  unto  your 
LORD.  We  gave  unto  the  children  of  Israel  the  book  of  the 
law,  and  wisdom,  and  prophecy  ;  and  we  fed  them  with  good 
things,  and  preferred  them  above  all  nations :  and  we  gave 
them  plain  ordinances  concerning  the  business  of  religion ; 
neither  do  they  fall  to  variance,  except  after  that  knowledge 
had  come  unto  them,  through  envy  among  themselves :  but 
thy  LORD  will  decide  the  controversy  between  them,  on  the 
day  of  resurrection,  concerning  that  wherein  they  disagree. 
Afterwards  we  appointed  thee,  0  Mohammed,  to  promulgate 
a  law  concerning  the  business  of  religion :  wherefore  follow 
the  same,  and  follow  not%  the  desires  of  those  who  are  igno- 
rant. Verily  they  shall  not  avail  thee  against  GOD  at  all ; 
the  unjust  are  the  patrons  of  one  another ;  but  GOD  is  the 
patron  of  the  pious.  This  Koran  delivereth  evident  precepts 
unto  mankind ;  and  is  a  direction,  and  a  mercy,  unto  people 
who  judge  aright.  Do  the  workers  of  iniquity  imagine  that 
we  will  deal  with  them  as  with  those  who  believe  and  do 
good  works ;  so  that  their  life  and  their  death  shall  be  equal  ? 
An  ill  judgment  do  they  make.  GOD  hath  created  the 
heavens  and  the  earth  in  truth  ;  that  he  may  recompense 
every  soul  according  to  that  which  it  shall  have  wrought 
and  they  shall  not  be  treated  unjustly.  What  thinkest  thou  ? 
He  who  taketh  his  own  lust  for  his  GOD,  and  whom  GOD 
causeth  knowingly  to  err,  and  whose  ears  and  whose  heart 
he  hath  sealed  up,  and  over  whose  eyes  he  hath  cast  a  veil ; 
who  shall  direct  him,  after  GOD  shall  have  forsaken  him  J 
Will  ye  therefore  not  be  admonished  ?  They  say,  There  is 
no  other  life,  except  our  present  life :  we  die,  and  we  live ; 
and  nothing  but  time  destroyeth  us.  But  they  have  no 
knowledge  in  this  matter ;  they  only  follow  a  vain  opinion. 
And  wl^en  our  evident  signa  are  rehearsed  unto  them,  their 
H 


586  AL  KORAN. 

argument  which  they  offer  against  the  same  is  no  other  than 
that  they  say,  Bring  to  life  our  fathers  who  have  been  dead; 
if  ye  speak  truth.  Say,  GOD  giveth  you  life ;  and  after- 
wards causeth  you  to  die :  hereafter  will  he  assemble  you 
together  on  the  day  of  resurrection ;  there  is  no  doubt  there- 
of; but  the  greater  part  of  men  do  not  understand.  Unto 
GOD  appertaineth  the  kingdom  of  heaven  and  earth ;  and 
the  day  whereon  the  hour  shall  be  fixed,  on  that  day  shall 
those  who  charge  the  Koran  with  vanity  perish.  And  thou 
shall  see  every  nation  kneeling :  every  nation  shall  be  called 
unto  its  book  of  account ;  and  it  shall  be  said  unto  them,  This 
day  shall  ye  be  rewarded  according  to  that  which  ye  have 
wrought.  This  our  book  will  speak  concerning  you  with 
truth ;  therein  have  we  written  down  whatever  ye  have  done. 
As  to  those  who  shall  have  believed  and  done  good  works, 
their  LORD  shall  lead  them  into  his  mercy :  this  shall  be 
manifest  felicity.  But  as  to  the  infidels,  it  shall  be  said  unto 
them,  Were  not  my  signs  rehearsed  unto  you  ?  but  ye  proud- 
ly rejected  them,  and  became  a  wicked  people  !  And  when  it 
was  said  unto  you,  Verily  the  promise  of  GOD  is  true  :  and 
as  to  the  hour  of  judgment,  there  is  no  doubt  thereof:  ye  an- 
swered, We  know  not  what  the  hour  of  judgment  is:  we  hold 
an  uncertain  opinion  only ;  and  we  are  not  well  assured  of 
this  matter.  But  on  that  day  the  evils  of  that  which  they 
have  wrought  shall  appear  unto  them ;  and  that  which  they 
mocked  at  shall  encompass  them :  and  it  shall  be  said  unto 
them,  This  day  will  we  forget  you,  as  ye  did  forget  the  meet- 
ing of  this  your  day  :  and  your  abode  shall  be  hell  fire  ;  and 
ye  shall  have  none  to  deliver  you.  This  shall  ye  suffer,  be- 
cause ye  turned  the  signs  of  GOD  to  ridicule ;  and  the  life  of 
the  world  deceived  you.  On  this  day,  therefore,  they  shall 
not  be  taken  forth  from  thence,  neither  shall  they  be  asked 
any  more  to  render  themselves  well-pleasing  unto  God. 
Wherefore  praise  be  unto  GOD,  the  LORD  of  the  heavens, 
and  the  LORD  of  the  earth ;  the  LORD  of  all  creatures :  and 
unto  him  be  glory  in  heaven  and  earth ;  for  he  u  the  mighty, 
the  wise  God. 


Al  KORAN.  587 

CHAPTER  XLVL 

nrriTLED,  AL  AHKAF  ;  REVEALED  AT  MECCA. 

IH   THB    HAMB    Of   THB    MOST    MEKCIIOL   SOD. 

H.  M.  THE  revelation  of  this  book  u  from  the  mighty, 
the  wise  GOD.  "We  have  not  created  the  heavens,  and  th« 
earth,  and  whatever  is  between  them,  otherwise  than  in  truth, 
and  for  a  determined  period  :  but  the  unbelievers  turn  away 
from  the  warning  which  is  given  them.  Say,  What  think 
ye?  Show  me  what  part  of  the  earth  the  idols  which  ye 
invoke,  besides  GOD,  have  created  ?  Or,  had  they  any  share 
in  the  creation  of  the  heavens?  Bring  me  a  book  ofscn'jt- 
ture  revealed  before  this,  or  some  footstep  of  ancient  knowl- 
edge, to  countenance  your  idolatrous  practices  ;  if  ye  are  men 
of  veracity.  Who  is  in  a  wider  error  than  he  who  invoketh, 
besides  GOD,  that  which  cannot  return  him  an  answer,  to  the 
day  of  resurrection  ;  and  idols  which  regard  not  their  calling 
on  them:  and  which,  when  men  shall  be  gathered  together 
to  judgment,  will  become  their  enemies,  and  will  ungratefully 
deny  their  worship  ?  When  our  evident  signs  are  rehearsed 
unto  them,  the  unbelievers  say  of  the  truth,  when  it  cometh 
unto  them,  This  it  a  manifest  piece  of  sorcery.  Will  they 
say,  Mohammed  hath  forged  it  ?  Answer,  If  I  have  forged 
it,  verily  ye  shall  not  obtain  for  me  any  favor  from  GOD  : 
he  well  knoweth  the  injurious  language  which  ye  utter  con- 
cerning it :  he  is  a  sufficient  witness  between  me  and  you ; 
and  he  is  gracious  and  merciful.  Say,  I  am  not  singular 
among  the  apostles  ;  neither  do  I  know  what  will  be  done  with 
me  or  with  you  hereafter:  1  follow  no  other  than  what  is  re- 
vealed unto  me ;  neither  am  I  any  more  than  a  public  warner. 
Say,  What  is  your  opinion  ?  If  this  book  be  from  GOD,  and 
ye  believe  not  therein ;  and  a  witness  of  the  children  of 
Israel  bear  witness  to  its  consonancy  with  the  law,  and  be- 
lieveth  therein  ;  and  ye  proudly  reject  the  same :  are  ye  not 
unjust  doers  ?  Verily  GOD  directeth  not  unjust  people.  But 
those  who  believe  not  say  of  the  true  believers,  If  the  doc- 
trine of  the  Koran  had  been  good,  they  had  not  embraced 
the  same  before  us.  And  when  they  are  not  guided  thereby, 
they  say,  This  u  an  antiquated  lie.  Whereas  the  book  of 


388  AL  KORAN. 

Moses  was  revealed  before  the  Koran,  to  fa  a,  guide  and  a 
mercy :  and  this  is  a  book  confirming  the  same,  delivered  it, 
the  Arabic  tongue ;  to  denounce  threats  unto  those  who  act  un- 
justly, and  to  bear  good  tidings  unto  the  righteous  doers.  AM 
to  those  who  say,  Our  LORD  is  GOD  ;  and  who  behave  up- 
rightly: on  them  shall  no  fear  come,  neither  shall  they  be 
grieved.  These  shall  be  the  inhabitants  of  paradise,  they 
shall  remain  therein  forever :  in  recompense  for  that  which 
they  have  wrought.  We  have  commanded  man  to  show 
kindness  to  his  parents  :  his  mother  beareth  him  in  her 
womb  with  pain,  and  bringeth  him  forth  with  pain  : 
and  the  space  of  his  being  carried  in  her  womb,  and  of 
his  weaning,  is  thirty  months  ;  until,  when  he  attaineth 
his  age  of  strength,  and  attaineth  the  age  of  forty  years, 
he  saith,  0  LORD,  excite  me,  by  thy  inspiration,  that  I 
may  be  grateful  for  their  favors,  wherewith  thou  hast 
favored  me  and  my  parents  ;  and  that  I  may  work  right- 
eousness, which  may  please  thee :  and  be  gracious  unto  me  in 
my  issue ;  for  I  am  turned  unto  thee,  and  am  a  Moslem. 
These  are  they  from  whom  we  accept  the  good  work  which 
they  have  wrought,  and  whose  evil  works  we  pass  by ;  and 
they  shall  be  among  the  inhabitants  of  paradise :  this  is  a  true 
promise,  which  they  are  promised  in  this  world.  He  who 
saith  unto  his  parents,  Fie  on  you !  Do  ye  promise  me  that 
I  shall  be  taken  forth  from  the  grave,  and  restored  to  life  ; 
when  many  generations  have  passed  away  before  me,  and 
none  of  them  have  returned  back  ?  And  his  parents  implore 
GOD'S  assistance,  and  say  to  their  son,  Alas  for  thee !  Be- 
lieve :  for  the  promise  of  GOD  is  true.  But  he  answereth, 
This  i*  no  other  than  silly  fables  of  the  ancients.  These 
are  they  whom  the  sentence  passed  on  the  nations  which 
have  been  before  them,  of  genii  and  of  men,  justly  fitteth 
they  shall  surely  perish.  For  every  one  is  prepared  a  cer- 
tain degree  of  happiness  or  misery,  according  to  that  which 
they  shall  have  wrought :  that  God  may  recompense  them 
for  their  works  :  and  they  shall  not  be  treated  unjustly.  On 
a  certain  day,  the  unbelievers  shall  be  exposed  before  the 
fire  of  hell;  and  it  shall  be  said  unto  them,  Ye  received  your 
good  things  in  your  lifetime,  while  ye  were  in  the  world ;  and 
ye  enjoyed  yourselves  therein :  wherefore  this  day  ye  shall 
be  rewarded  with  the  punishment  of  ignominy ;  for  that  ye 
Behaved  insolently  in  the  earth,  without  justice,  and  for  that 


AL  KORAN.  889 

ye  transgressed.  Remember  the  brother  of  Ad,  when  he 
preached  unto  his  people  in  Al  Ahkaf  (and  there  were  preach- 
ers before  him,  and  after  him),  saying,  Worship  none  but 
GOD  :  verily  I  fear  for  you  the  punishment  of  a  great  day. 
They  answered,  Art  thou  come  unto  us  that  thou  mayest  turu 
us  aside  from  the  worship  of  our  gods  ?  Bring  on  us  now  th« 
punishment  with  which  thou  threatenest  us,  if  thou  art  a 
man  of  veracity.  He  said,  Verily  the  knowledge  of  the  time 
when  your  punishment  will  be  inflicted  is  with  GOD  ;  and  I 
only  declare  unto  you  that  which  I  am  sent  to  preach  ;  but  I 
Bee  ye  are  an  ignorant  people.  And  when  they  saw  the 
preparation  made  for  their  punishment,  namely,  a  cloud  trav- 
ersing the  sky,  and  tending  towards  their  valleys,  they  said, 
This  it  a  traversing  cloud,  which  bringeth  us  rain.  Hud 
answered,  Nay ;  it  is  what  ye  demanded  to  be  hastened :  a 
wind,  wherein  is  a  severe  vengeance  :  it  will  destroy  every- 
thing, at  the  command  of  its  LORD.  And  in  the  morning 
nothing  was  to  be  seen,  besides  their  empty  dwellings.  Thus 
do  we  reward  wicked  people.  We  had  established  them  in 
the  like  flourishing  condition  wherein  we  have  established 
you,  0  men  of  Mecca  ;  and  we  had  given  them  ears,  and  eyes, 
and  hearts  :  yet  neither  their  ears,  nor  their  eyes,  nor  their 
hearts  profited  them  at  all,  when  they  rejected  the  signs  of 
GOD  ;  but  the  vengeance  which  they  mocked  at  fell  upon 
them.  We  heretofore  destroyed  the  cities  which  were  round 
about  you  ;  and  we  variously  proposed  our  signs  unto  them, 
that  they  might  repent.  Did  those  protect  them,  whom  they 
took  for  gods,  besides  GOD,  and  imagined  to  be  honored  with 
his  familiarity  ?  Nay ;  they  withdrew  from  them  :  yet  this 
was  their  false  opinion  which  seduced  them,  and  the  blasphemy 
which  they  had  devised.  Remember  when  we  caused  certain 
of  the  genii  to  turn  aside  unto  thee,  that  they  might  hear  the 
Koran :  and  when  they  were  present  at  the  reading  of  the 
same,  they  said  to  one  another,  Give  ear :  and  when  it  was 
ended,  they  returned  back  unto  their  people,  preaching  what 
they  had  heard.  They  said,  Our  people,  verily  we  have 
Leaid  a  book  read  unto  us,  which  hath  been  revealed  since 
Moses,  confirming  the  scripture  which  was  delivered  before 
it;  and  directing  unto  the  truth,  and  the  right  way.  Our 
people,  obey  GOD'S  preacher :  and  believe  in  him  ;  that  he 
may  forgive  you  your  sins,  and  may  deliver  you  from  a  pain 
ful  punishment.  And  whoever  obeyeth  not  GOD'S  preacher 


390  AL  KORAN. 

shall  by  no  means  frustrate  Gotf  s  vengeance  on  earth :  nei- 
ther shall  he  have  any  protectors  besides  him.  These  will  bt 
in  a  manifest  error.  Do  they  not  know  that  GOD,  who  hath 
created  the  heavens  and  the  earth,  and  was  not  fatigued  with 
the  creation  thereof,  is  able  to  raise  the  dead  to  life  ?  Yea 
verily ;  for  he  is  almighty.  On  a  certain  day  the  unbelievers 
shall  be  exposed  unto  hett  lire;  and  it  shall  be  said  unto  them, 
Is  not  this  really  come  to  pass  ?  They  shall  answer,  Yea,  by 
our  LOED.  God  shall  reply,  Taste,  therefore,  the  punishment 
of  hell,  for  that  ye  have  been  unbelievers.  Do  thou,  0 
prophet,  bear  the  insults  of  thy  people  with  patience,  as  out 
apostles,  who  were  endued  with  constancy,  bear  the  injuries 
of  their  people :  and  require  not  their  punishment  to  be  has- 
tened unto  them.  On  the  day  whereon  they  shall  see  the 
punishment  wherewith  they  have  been  threatened,  it  shall 
seem  as  though  they  had  tarried  in  the  world  but  an  hour  of 
a  day.  This  is  a  fair  warning.  Shall  they  perish  except 
the  people  who  transgress  ? 


CHAPTER  XLVIL 

IHTITLED,   MOHAMMED  ;    REVEALED    AT  MEDIHA. 
IH    THB    NAMB    OF    THE   MOST    MBECIFUL    GOD. 

GOD  will  render  of  none  effect  the  works  of  those  who 
believe  not,  and  who  turn  away  men  from  the  way  of  GOD  : 
but  as  to  those  who  believe,  and  work  righteousness,  and  be- 
lieve the  revelation  which  hath  been  sent  down  unto  Moham- 
med (for  it  is  the  truth  from  their  LORD),  he  will  expiate 
their  evil  deeds  from  them,  and  will  dispose  their  heart  aright 
This  will  he  do,  because  those  who  believe  not  follow  vanity, 
and  because  those  who  believe  follow  the  truth  from  their 
LORD.  Thus  GOD  propoundeth  unto  men  their  examples. 
When  ye  encounter  the  unbelievers,  strike  off  their  heads, 
until  ye  have  made  a  great  slaughter  among  them  ;  and  bind 
them  in  bonds  ;  and  either  give  them  a  free  dismission  after- 
wards, or  exact  a  ransom  ;  until  the  war  shall  have  laid 


AL  KORAN.  891 

down  its  arms.  This  shall  ye  do.  Verily  if  GOD  pleased 
he  could  take  vengeance  on  them,  without  your  assistance ; 
but  he  commandeth  you  to  fight  his  battles,  that  he  may  prove 
the  one  of  you  by  the  other.  And  as  to  those  who  fight  in 
defence  of  GOD'S  true  religion,  God  will  not  suffer  their 
works  to  perish :  he  will  guide  them,  and  will  dispose  their 
heart  aright ;  and  he  will  lead  them  into  paradise,  of  which 
he  hath  told  them.  0  true  believers,  if  ye  assist  GOD,  by 
fighting  for  his  religion,  he  will  assist  you  against  your  ene- 
mies ;  and  will  set  your  feet  fast :  but  as  for  the  infidels,  let 
them  perish ;  and  their  works  shall  God  render  vain.  This 
thall  befall  them,  because  they  have  rejected  with  abhorrence 
that  which  GOD  hath  revealed :  wherefore  their  works  shall 
become  of  no  avail.  Do  they  not  travel  through  the  earth, 
and  see  what  hath  been  the  end  of  those  who  were  before 
them  ?  GOD  utterly  destroyed  them  :  and  the  like  catas- 
trophe awaiteth  the  unbelievers.  This  shall  come  to  pass,  for 
that  GOD  is  the  patron  of  the  true  believers,  and  for  that 
the  infidels  have  no  protector.  Verily  GOD  will  introduce 
those  who  believe,  and  do  good  works,  into  gardens  beneath 
which  rivers  flow  :  but  the  unbelievers  indulge  themselves 
in  pleasures,  and  eat  as  beasts  eat ;  and  their  abode  shall  be 
hell  fire.  How  many  cities  were  more  mighty  in  strength 
than  thy  city  which  hath  expelled  thee ;  yet  have  we  de- 
stroyed them,  and  there  was  none  to  help  them  ?  Shall  he 
therefore,  who  followeth  the  plain  declaration  of  his  LORD, 
be  as  he  whose  evil  works  have  been  dressed  up  for  him  by 
the  devil ;  and  who  follow  their  own  lusts  ?  The  description 
of  paradise,  which  is  promised  unto  the  pious :  therein  are 
rivers  of  incorruptible  water ;  and  rivers  of  milk,  the  taste 
whereof  changeth  not ;  and  rivers  of  wine,  pleasant  unto 
those  who  drink  ;  and  rivers  of  clarified  honey  :  and  therein 
shall  they  have  plenty  of  all  kinds  of  fruits  ;  and  pardon  from 
their  LORD.  Shall  the  man  for  whom  these  things  are  pre- 
pared be  as  he  who  must  dwell  forever  in  hell  fire  ;  and  will 
have  the  boiling  water  given  him  to  drink,  which  shall  burst 
their  bowels  ?  Of  the  unbelievers  there  are  some  who  give 
ear  unto  thee,  until,  when  they  go  out  from  thee,  they  say, 
by  way  of  derision  unto  those  to  whom  knowledge  hath  been 
given,  What  hath  he  said  now  ?  These  are  they  whose  hearta 
GOD  hath  sealed  up,  and  who  follow  their  own  lusts :  but  at 
ce  those  who  are  directed,  God  will  grant  them  a  more  ample 


892  AL  KORAN. 

direction,  and  he  will  instruct  them  what  to  avoid.  Do  th* 
infidels  wait  for  any  other  than  the  last  hour,  that  it  may 
come  upon  them  suddenly  ?  Some  signs  thereof  are  already 
come :  and  when  it  shall  actually  overtake  them,  how  can 
they  then  receive  admonition  ?  Know  therefore,  that  there 
is  no  god  but  GOD  :  and  ask  pardon  for  thy  sin,  and  for  the 
true  believers,  both  men  and  women.  GOD  knoweth  your 
busy  employment  in  the  world,  and  the  place  of  your  abode 
hereafter.  The  true  believers  say,  Hath  not  a  Sura  been 
revealed  commanding  war  against  the  infidels  f  But  when  a 
Sura  without  any  ambiguity  is  revealed,  and  war  is  mentioned 
therein,  thou  mayest  see  those  in  whose  hearts  is  an  infirmity 
look  towards  thee  with  the  look  of  one  whom  death  over- 
Bhadoweth.  But  obedience  would  be  more  eligible  for  them, 
and  to  speak  that  which  is  convenient.  And  when  the  com- 
mand is  firmly  established,  if  they  give  credit  unto  GOD,  it 
will  be  better  for  them.  Were  ye  ready,  therefore,  if  ye 
had  been  put  in  authority,  to  commit  outrages  in  the  earth, 
and  to  violate  the  ties  of  blood  ?  These  are  they  whom  GOD 
hath  cursed,  and  hath  rendered  deaf,  and  whose  eyes  he  hath 
blinded.  Do  they  not  therefore  attentively  meditate  on  the 
Koran  ?  Are  there  locks  upon  their  hearts  ?  Verily  they 
who  turn  their  backs,  after  the  true  direction  is  made  mani- 
fest unto  them,  Satan  shall  prepare  their  wickedness  for  them, 
and  God  shall  bear  with  them  for  a  time.  This  shall  befall 
them,  because  they  say  privately  unto  those  who  detest  what 
GOD  hath  revealed,  We  will  obey  you  in  part  of  the  matter. 
But  GOD  knoweth  their  secrets.  How  therefore  will  it  be 
with  them,  when  the  angels  shall  cause  them  to  die,  and  shall 
strike  their  faces,  and  their  backs  ?  This  shall  they  suffer,  be- 
cause they  follow  that  which  provpketh  GOD  to  wrath,  and  are 
averse  to  what  is  well  pleasing  unto  him :  and  he  will  render 
their  works  vain.  Do  they  in  whose  hearts  is  an  infirmity 
imagine  that  GOD  will  not  bring  their  malice  to  light  ?  If 
we  pleased,  we  could  surely  show  them  unto  thee,  and  thou 
shouldest  know  them  by  their  marks ;  but  thou  shalt  cer- 
tainly know  them  by  their  perverse  pronunciation  of  their 
words.  GOD  knoweth  your  actions :  and  we  will  try  you, 
until  we  know  those  among  you  who  fight  valiantly,  and  who 
persevere  with  constancy :  and  we  will  try  the  reports  of 
your  behavior.  Verily  those  who  believe  not,  and  turn  away 
tnen  from  the  way  of  GOD,  and  make  opposition  against  the 


AL   KORAN.  393 

apostle,  after  the  divine  direction  hath  been  manifested  unt« 
them,  shall  not  hurt  GOD  at  all ;  but  he  shall  make  their 
works  to  perish.  O  true  believers,  obey  GOD  ;  and  obey 
the  apostle :  ind  render  not  your  works  of  no  effect.  Verily 
those  who  believe  not,  and  who  turn  away  men  from  the  way 
of  GOD,  and  then  die,  being  unbelievers,  GOD  will  by  no 
means  forgive.  Faint  not  therefore,  neither  invite  your  ene~ 
miet  to  peace,  while  ye  are  the  superior :  for  GOD  it  with 
you,  and  will  not  defraud  you  of  the  merit  of  your  works. 
Verily  this  present  life  is  only  a  play  and  a  vain  amusement ; 
but  if  ye  believe,  and  fear  God,  he  will  give  you  your  re- 
wards. He  doth  not  require  of  you  your  whole  substance : 
if  he  should  require  the  whole  of  you,  and  earnestly  press 
you,  ye  would  become  niggardly,  and  it  would  raise  your 
hatred  against  his  apostle.  Behold,  ye  are  those  who  are 
invited  to  expend  part  of  your  substance  for  the  support  of 
GOD'S  true  religion  ;  and  there  are  some  of  you  who  are  nig- 
gardly. But  whoever  shall  be  niggardly  shall  be  niggardly 
towards  his  own  soul :  for  GOD  wanteth  nothing,  but  ye  ar« 
needy  :  and  if  ye  turn  back,  he  will  substitute  another  people 
"m  your  stead,  who  shall  not  be  like  unto  you. 


CHAPTER  XLVIIL 

,  THE  TICTOBT  ;   REVEALED  AT  MEDINA, 
1H  THM  VAMB  OF  THK  MOST  MKRCIFDL  SOD. 

VEBILT  we  have  granted  thee  a  manifest  victory :  that 
may  forgive  thee  thy  preceding  and  thy  subsequent 
sin,  and  may  complete  his  favor  on  thee,  and  direct  thee  in 
the  right  way  ;  and  that  GOD  may  assist  thee  with  a  glorious 
assistance.  It  is  he  who  sendeth  down  secure  tranquillity  into 
the  hearts  of  the  true  believers,  that  they  may  increase  in 
faith,  beyond  their  former  faith ;  (the  hosts  of  heaven  and 
tarth  are  GOD'S  ;  and  GOD  is  knowing  and  wise)  :  that  he 
may  lead  the  true  believers  of  both  sexes  into  gardens  be- 
neath which  rivers  flow,  to  dwell  therein  forever ;  and  may 


394  AL  KORAN. 

expiate  their  evil  deeds  from  them :  (thio  will  b«  great  felicity 
with  GOD)  :  and  that  he  may  punish  the  hypocritical  men, 
and  the  hypocritical  women,  and  the  idolaters,  and  the  idol- 
atresses, who  conceive  an  ill  opinion  of  GOD.  They  shall 
experience  a  turn  of  evil  fortune ;  and  GOD  shall  be  angry 
with  them,  and  shall  curse  them,  and  hath  prepared  hell  for 
them  ;  an  ill  journey  shall  it  be  thither  !  Unto  GOD  belong 
the  hosts  of  heaven  and  earth }  and  GOD  is  mighty  and  <vise 
Verily  we  have  sent  thee  to  be  a  witness,  and  a  bearer  of 
good  tidings,  and  a  denouncer  of  threats ;  that  ye  may  be- 
lieve in  GOD,  and  his  apostle ;  and  may  assist  him,  and  revere 
him,  and  praise  him  morning  and  evening.  Verily  they  who 
swear  fealty  unto  thee,  swear  fealty  unto  GOD  :  the  hand  of 
GOD  is  over  their  hands.  Whoever  shall  violate  his  oath, 
will  violate  the  tame  to  the  hurt  only  of  his  own  soul :  but 
whoever  shall  perform  that  which  he  hath  covenanted  with 
GOD,  he  will  surely  give  him  a  great  reward.  The  Arabs 
of  the  desert  who  were  left  behind  will  say  unto  thee,  Our 
substance  and  our  families  employed  us,  so  that  we  went  not 
forth  with  thee  to  war  ;  wherefore,  ask  pardon  for  us.  They 
speak  that  with  their  tongues,  which  is  not  in  their  hearts. 
Answer,  "Who  shall  be  able  to  obtain  for  you  anything  from 
GOD  to  the  contrary,  if  he  is  pleased  to  afflict  you,  or  is 
pleased  to  be  gracious  unto  you  ?  Yea,  verily,  GOD  is  well 
acquainted  with  that  which  ye  do.  Truly  ye  imagined  that 
the  apostle  and  the  true  believers  would  never  return  to  their 
families :  and  this  was  prepared  hi  your  hearts :  but  ye 
imagined  an  evil  imagination ;  and  ye  are  a  corrupt  people. 
Whoso  believeth  not  in  GOD  and  his  apostle,  verily  we  have 
prepared  burning  fire  for  the  unbelievers.  Unto  GOD  belong- 
eth  the  kingdom  of  heaven  and  earth :  he  forgiveth  whom  he 
pleaseth :  and  he  punisheth  whom  he  pleaseth :  and  GOD  ia 
inclined  to  forgive,  and  merciful.  Those  who  were  left  behind 
will  say,  when  ye  go  forth  to  take  the  spoil,  Suffer  us  to  fol- 
low you.  They  seek  to  change  the  word  of  GOD.  Say,  Ye 
shall  by  no  means  follow  us :  thus  hath  GOD  said  heretofore. 
They  will  reply,  Nay  :  ye  envy  us  a  share  of  the  booty.  But 
they  are  men  of  small  understanding.  Say  unto  the  Arabs 
»f  the  desert  who  were  left  behind,  Ye  shall  be  called  forth 
•gainst  a  mighty  and  a  warlike  nation  ;  ye  shall  fight  against 
them,  or  they  shall  profess  Islam.  If  ye  obey,  GOD  will  give 
you  a  glorious  reward :  but  if  ye  turn  back,  as  ye  turned 


AL  KORAN.  395 

back  heretofore,  he  will  chastise  you  with  a  grievous  chastise- 
ment  It  shall  be  no  crime  in  the  blind,  neither  shall  it  be  a 
crime  in  the  lame,  neither  shall  it  be  a  crime  in  the  sick,  if 
they  go  not  forth  to  war:  and  whoso  shall  obey  GOD  and  hit 
apostle,  he  shall  lead  them  into  gardens  beneath  which  rivers 
flow ;  but  whoso  shall  turn  back,  he  will  chastise  him  with  a 
grievous  chastisement.  Now  GOD  was  well  pleased  with  the 
true  believers,  when  they  sware  fidelity  to  thee  under  the 
tree ;  and  he  knew  that  which  was  in  their  hearts ;  where- 
fore he  sent  down  on  them  tranquillity  of  mind,  and  rewarded 
them  with  a  speedy  victory,  and  many  spoils  which  they  took  : 
for  GOD  is  mighty  and  wise.  GOD  promised  you  many  spoils 
which  ye  should  take ;  but  he  gave  you  these  by  way  of  ear- 
nest ;  and  he  restrained  the  hands  of  men  from  you  :  that  the 
same  may  be  a  sign  unto  the  true  believers  ;  and  that  he  may 
guide  you  into  the  right  way.  And  he  also  promiseth  you 
other  spoils,  which  ye  have  not  yet  been  able  to  take :  but 
now  hath  GOD  encompassed  them  for  you ;  and  GOD  is  al- 
mighty. If  the  unbelieving  Meccans  had  fought  against  you, 
verily  they  had  turned  their  backs  ;  and  they  would  not  have 
found  a  patron  or  protector :  according  to  the  ordinance  of 
GOD,  which  hath  been  put  in  execution  heretofore  against  op- 
posers  of  the  prophets  ;  for  thou  shall  not  find  any  change  in 
the  ordinance  of  GOD.  It  was  he  who  restrained  their  hands 
from  you,  and  your  hands  from  them,  in  the  valley  of  Mecca ; 
after  that  he  had  given  you  the  victory  over  them :  and  GOD 
saw  that  which  ye  did.  These  are  they  who  believed  not, 
and  hindered  you  from  visiting  the  holy  temple,  and  alto 
hindered  the  offering  being  detained,  that  it  should  not  arrive 
at  the  place  where  it  ought  to  be  sacrificed.  Had  it  not  been 
that  ye  might  have  trampled  on  divers  true  believers,  both 
men  and  women,  whom  ye  know  not,  being  promiscuously  at- 
tembled  with  the  injidels,  and  that  a  crime  might  therefore 
have  lighted  on  you  on  their  account,  without  your  knowledge, 
he  had  not  restrained  your  hands  from  them :  but  this  wot 
done,  that  GOD  might  lead  whom  he  pleased  into  his  mercy. 
If  they  had  been  distinguished  from  one  another,  we  had 
surely  chastised  such  of  them  as  believed  not,  with  a  severe 
chastisement.  When  the  unbelievers  had  put  in  their  hearts 
an  affected  preciseness,  the  preciseness  of  ignorance,  and  GOD 
sent  down  his  tranquillity  on  his  apostle  and  on  the  true  be- 
lievers ;  and  firmly  fixed  in  them  the  word  of  piety,  and  thej 


396  AL  KORAN. 

were  the  most  worthy  of  the  same,  and  the  most  deserving 
thereof:  for  GOD  knoweth  all  things.  Now  hath  GOD  in 
truth  verified  unto  his  apostle  the  vision,  wherein  he  said, 
Ye  shall  surely  enter  the  holy  temple  of  Mecca,  if  GOD 
please,  in  full  security ;  having  your  heads  shaved,  and  your 
hair  cut :  ye  shall  not  fear :  for  God  knoweth  that  which  ye 
know  not ;  and  he  hath  appointed  you,  besides  this,  a  speedy 
victory.  It  is  he  who  hath  sent  his  apostle  with  the  direction, 
and  the  religion  of  truth ;  that  he  may  exalt  the  same  above 
every  religion  :  and  GOD  is  a  sufficient  witness  hereof.  Mo- 
hammed is  the  apostle  of  GOD  :  and  those  who  are  with  him 
are  fierce  against  the  unbelievers,  but  compassionate  towards 
one  another.  Thou  mayest  see  them  bowing  down,  prostrate, 
seeking  a  recompense  from  GOD,  and  his  good-will.  Their 
signs  are  in  their  faces,  being  marks  of  frequent  prostration. 
This  is  their  description  in  the  pentateuch,  and  their  descrip- 
tion in  the  gospel :  they  are  as  seed  which  putteth  forth  its 
stalk  and  strengtheneth  it,  and  swelleth  in  the  ear,  and  riseth 
upon  its  stem  ;  giving  delight  unto  the  sower.  Such  are  the 
Moslems  described  to  be  :  that  the  infidels  may  swell  with  in- 
dignation at  them.  GOD  hath  promised  unto  such  of  them 
as  believe,  and  do  good  works,  pardon  and  a  great  reward. 


CHAPTER  XLIX. 

WTITLED,  THE  INNER  APARTMENTS  ;  REVEALED  AT  MEDINA. 
IN    THE    NAME    OF    THE    MOST    MERCIFUL    GOD. 

0  TEUE  believers,  anticipate  not  any  matter  in  the  sight  of 
GOD  and  his  apostle  :  and  fear  GOD  ;  for  GOD  both  heareth 
and  knoweth.  0  true  believers,  raise  not  your  voices  above 
the  voice  of  the  prophet ;  neither  speak  loud  unto  him  in  dis- 
course, as  ye  speak  loud  unto  one  another,  lest  your  works 
become  vain,  and  ye  perceive  it  not.  Verily  they  who  lower 
their  voices  in  the  presence  of  the  apostle  of  GOD  are  those 
whose  hearts  GOD  hath  disposed  unto  piety  :  they  shall  obtain 
pardon,  and  a  great  reward.  As  to  those  who  call  unto  thett 


AL  KORAN.  397 

from  without  the  inner  apartments ;  the  greater  part  of  them 
Jo  not  understand  the  respect  due  to  thee.  If  they  wait  with 
patience,  until  thou  come  forth  unto  them,  it  will  certainly  be 
better  for  them  :  but  GOD  is  inclined  to  forgive,  and  merci- 
ful/ O  true  believers,  if  a  wicked  man  come  unto  you  with 
a  tale,  inquire  strictly  into  the  truth  thereof;  lest  ye  hurt  peo- 
ple through  ignorance,  and  afterwards  repent  of  what  ye  have 
done  ;  and  know  that  the  apostle  of  GOD  is  among  you  :  if 
he  should  obey  you  in  many  things,  ye  would  certainly  be 
guilty  of  a  crime,  in  hading  him  into  a  mistake.  But  GOD 
hath  made  the  faith  amiable  unto  you,  and  hath  prepared  the 
same  in  your  hearts ;  and  hath  rendered  infidelity,  and  ini- 
quity, and  disobedience  hateful  unto  you.  These  are  they 
who  walk  in  the  right  way ;  through  mercy  from  GOD,  and 
grace :  and  GOD  is  knowing,  and  wise.  If  two  parties  of 
the  believers  contend  with  one  another,  do  ye  endeavor  to 
compose  the  matter  between  them  :  and  if  the  one  of  them 
offer  an  insult  unto  the  other,  fight  against  that  party  which 
offered  the  insult,  until  they  return  unto  the  judgment  of  GOD  ; 
and  if  they  do  return,  make  peace  between  them  with  equity : 
and  act  with  justice ;  for  GOD  loveth  those  who  act  justly. 
Verily  the  true  believers  are  brethren ;  wherefore  reconcile 
your  brethren ;  and  fear  GOD,  that  ye  may  obtain  mercy. 
0  true  believers,  let  not  men  laugh  other  men  to  scorn ;  who 
peradventure  may  be  better  than  themselves :  neither  let  wom- 
en laugh  other  women  to  scorn  ;  who  may  possibly  be  better 
than  themselves.  Neither  defame  one  another  ;  nor  call  one 
another  by  opprobrious  appellations.  An  ill  name  it  is  to  be 
charged  with  wickedness,  after  having  embraced  the  faith :  and 
whoso  repenteth  not,  they  will  be  the  unjuui  doers.  0  true 
believers,  carefully  avoid  entertaining  a  suspicion  of  another  : 
for  some  suspicions  are  a  crime.  Inquire  not  too  curiously 
into  other  men's  failings :  neither  let  the  one  of  you  speak 
ill  of  another  in  his  absence.  Would  any  of  you  desire  to 
cat  the  flesh  of  his  dead  brother  ?  Surely  ye  would  abhor  it. 
Arid  fear  GOD  ;  for  GOD  is  easy  to  be  reconciled,  and  mer- 
ciful. O  men,  verily  we  have  created  you  of  a  male  and  a 
female  ;  and  we  have  distributed  you  into  nations  and  tribes, 
that  ye  might  know  one  another.  Verily  the  most  honorable 
of  you,  in  the  sight  of  GOD,  is  the  most  pioua  of  you :  and 
GOD  is  wise  and  knowing.  The  Arabs  of  the  desert  say, 
We  believe.  Answer,  Ye  do  by  no  means  believe  ;  but  say 


S98  AL  KORAN. 

We  have  embraced  Islam  :  for  the  faith  hath  not  yet  entered 
into  your  hearts.  If  ye  obey  GOD  and  his  apostle,  he  will 
not  defraud  you  of  any  part  of  the  merit  of  your  works  :  for 
GOD  is  inclined  to  forgive,  and  merciful.  Verily  the  true 
believers  are  those  only  who  believe  in  GOD  and  his  apostle, 
and  afterwards  doubt  not ;  and  who  employ  their  substance 
and  their  persons  in  the  defence  of  GOD'S  true  religion  :  these 
are  they  who  speak  sincerely.  Say,  Will  ye  inform  GOD 
concerning  your  religion?  But  GOD  knoweth  whatever  is 
in  heaven  and  in  earth :  for  GOD  is  omniscient.  They  up- 
braid thee  that  they  have  embraced  Islam.  Answer,  Upbraid 
me  not  with  your  having  embraced  Islam  :  rather  GOD  up- 
braideth  you,  that  he  hath  directed  you  to  the  faith ;  if  ye 
speak  sincerely.  Verily  GOD  knoweth  the  secrets  of  heaven 
and  earth  :  and  GOD  beholdeth  that  which  ye  do. 


CHAPTER  L. 

INTITLKD,   K;    REVEALED    AT   MECCA. 
IH   THB    SAME    OF    THE   MOST    MERCIFUL   GOD. 

K.  BY  the  glorious  Koran :  verily  they  wonder  that  a 
preacher  from  among  themselves  is  come  unto  them  ;  and  the 
unbelievers  say,  This  is  a  wonderful  thing :  after  we  shall  be 
dead,  and  become  dust,  shall  we  return  to  life  ?  This  is  a  re- 
turn remote  from  thought.  Now  we  know  what  the  earth 
consumeth  of  them ;  and  with  us  is  a  book  which  keepeth  an 
account  thereof.  But  they  charge  falsehood  on  the  truth, 
after  it  hath  come  unto  them :  wherefore  they  are  plunged  in 
a  confused  business.  Do  they  not  look  up  to  the  heaven  above 
them,  and  consider  how  we  have  raised  it  and  adorned  it ;  and 
that  there  are  no  flaws  therein  ?  We  have  also  spread  forth 
the  earth,  and  thrown  thereon  mountains  firmly  rooted  :  and 
we  caused  every  beautiful  kind  of  vegetables  to  spring  up 
therein  ;  for  a  subject  of  meditation,  and  an  admonition  unto 
every  man  who  turneth  unto  us.  And  we  send  down  rain  as 
»  blessing  from  heaven,  whereby  we  cause  gardens  to  spring 


AL  KORAN.  399 

tbrfti,  \i*d  the  grain  of  harvest,  and  tall  palm-trees  ha\ing 
branches  laden  with  dates  hanging  one  above  another,  as  a 
provision  for  mankind  ;  and  we  thereby  quicken  a  dead  coun- 
try :  so  shall  be  the  coming  forth  of  the  dead  from  their  graves. 
The  people  of  Noah,  and  those  who  dwelt  at  Al  Rasa,  and 
Thamud,  and  Ad,  and  Pharaoh,  accused  the  prophets  of  im- 
posture before  the  Meccans  ;  and  also  the  brethren  of  Lot,  and 
the  inhabitants  of  the  wood  near  Midian,  and  the  people  of 
Tobba :  all  these  accused  the  apostles  of  imposture ;  where- 
fore the  judgments  which  I  threatened  were  justly  inflicted  on 
them.  Is  our  power  exhausted  by  the  first  creation  ?  Yea  ; 
they  are  in  a  perplexity,  because  of  a  new  creation  which  i» 
foretold  them,  namely  the  raising  of  the  dead.  We  created 
man,  and  we  know  what  his  soul  whispereth  within  him  ;  and 
we  are  nearer  unto  him  than  his  jugular  vein.  When  the 
two  angels  deputed  to  take  account  of  a  man's  behavior,  take 
an  account  thereof;  one  sitting  on  the  right  hand,  and  the 
other  on  the  left :  he  uttereth  not  a  word,  but  there  is  with 
him  a  watcher,  ready  to  note  it.  And  the  agony  of  death 
shall  come  in  truth :  this,  0  man,  is  what  thou  soughtest  to 
avoid.  And  the  trumpet  shall  sound :  this  witt  be  the  day 
which  hath  been  threatened.  And  every  soul  shall  come ; 
and  therewith  shall  be  a  driver  and  a  witness.  And  the  for- 
mer shall  say  unto  the  unbeliever,  Thou  wast  negligent  hereto- 
fore of  this  day :  but  we  have  removed  thy  veil  from  off  thee ; 
and  thy  sight  is  become  piercing  this  day.  And  his  compan- 
ions shall  say,  This  is  what  is  ready  with  me  to  be  attested. 
And  God  shall  say,  Cast  into  hell  every  unbeliever,  and  perverse 
person,  and  every  one  who  forbade  good,  and  every  transgress- 
or, and  doubter  of  the  faith,  who  set  up  another  god  with  the 
true  GOD  ;  and  cast  him  into  a  grievous  torment.  His  com- 
panion shall  say,  O  LORD,  I  did  not  seduce  him ;  but  he  was 
in  a  wide  error.  God  shall  say,  Wrangle  not  in  my  presence : 
since  I  threatened  you  beforehand  with  the  torments  which  ye 
rune  see  prepared  for  you.  The  sentence  is  not  changed  with 
me :  neither  do  I  treat  my  servants  unjustly.  On  that  day 
we  will  say  unto  hell,  Art  thou  full  ?  and  it  shall  answer,  /* 
there  yet  any  addition  ?  And  paradise  shall  be  brought  near 
unto  the  pious  ;  and  it  shall  be  said  unto  them,  This  is  what 
ye  have  been  promised ;  unto  every  one  who  turned  himself  unto 
God,  and  kept  his  commandments  ;  who  feared  the  Merciful 
in  eecret,  and  came  unto  him  with  a  converted  heart :  enter 


400  AL  KORAN. 

the  same  in  peace  :  this  is  the  day  of  eternity.  Therein  shall 
they  have  whatever  they  shall  desire ;  and  there  witt  be  a  su- 
perabundant addition  of  bliss  with  us.  How  many  genera- 
tions have  we  destroyed  before  the  Meccans,  which  were  more 
mighty  than  they  in  strength  ?  Pass,  therefore,  through  the 
regions  of  the  earth,  and  see  whether  there  be  any  refuge  from 
our  vengeance.  Verily  herein  is  an  admonition  unto  him 
who  hath  a  heart  to  understand,  or  giveth  ear,  and  is  present 
with  an  attentive  mind.  We  created  the  heavens  and  the 
earth,  and  whatever  is  between  them,  in  six  days,  and  no 
weariness  affected  us.  Wherefore  patiently  suffer  what  they 
8ay ;  and  celebrate  the  praise  of  thy  LORD  before  sunrise, 
and  before  sunset,  and  praise  him  in  some  part  of  the  night : 
and  perform  the  additional  parts  of  worship.  And  hearken 
unto  the  day  whereon  the  crier  shall  call  men  to  judgment 
from  a  near  place :  the  day  whereon  they  shall  hear  the  voice 
of  the  trumpet  in  truth :  this  wiU  be  the  day  of  men's  coming 
forth  from  their  graves :  we  give  life,  and  we  cause  to  die  j 
and  unto  us  shall  be  the  return  of  all  creatures :  the  day 
whereon  the  earth  shall  suddenly  cleave  in  sunder  over  them.1 
This  witt  be  an  assembly  easy  for  us  to  assemble.  We  well 
know  what  the  unbelievers  say  ;  and  thou  art  not  sent  to  com- 
oel  them  forcibly  to  the  faith.  Wherefore  warn,  by  the  Koran, 
urn  who  feareth  my  threatening. 


CHAPTER  LL 

nrriTLED,  THE  DISPERSING;  REVEALED  AT  MECCA. 

IN    THE    NAME    OF    TUB    HOST    MKSC1FUL    GOD. 

BY  the  winds  dispersing  and  scattering  the  dust ;  and  by 
he  clouds  bearing  a  load  of  rain ;  by  the  ships  running 
swiftly  in  the  sea;  and  by  the  angels  who  distribute  things 
necessary  for  the  support  of  all  creatures  ;  verily  that  where- 
with ye  are  threatened  is  certainly  true;  and  the  last  judg- 
ment will  surely  come.  By  the  heaven  furnished  with  paths ; 
fe  widely  differ  in  what  ye  say.  He  will  be  turned  aside 


AL  KORAN.  401 

from  the  faith,  who  shall  be  turned  aside  by  the  divine  decree. 
Cursed  be  the  liars ;  who  wade  in  deep  waters  of  ignorance, 
neglecting  their  salvation.  They  ask,  When  will  the  day  of 
judgment  come?  On  that  day  shall  they  be  burned  in  /tell 
fire  ;  and  it  shall  be  said  unto  them,  Taste  your  punishment ; 
this  is  what  ye  demanded  to  be  hastened.  But  the  pious 
thatt  dwell  among  gardens  and  fountains,  receiving  that  which 
their  LORD  shall  give  them ;  because  they  were  righteous 
doers  before  this  day.  They  slept  but  a  small  part  of  the 
night ;  and  early  in  the  morning  they  asked  pardon  of  God : 
and  a  due  portion  of  their  wealth  was  given  unto  him  who 
a.-ked,  and  unto  him  who  was  forbidden  by  shame  to  ask. 
There  are  signs  of  the  divine  power  and  goodness  in  the  earth, 
unto  men  of  sound  understanding ;  and  also  in  your  own 
selves  :  will  ye  not  therefore  consider  ?  Your  sustenance  it 
in  the  heaven ;  and  also  that  which  ye  are  promised.  Where- 
fore by  the  LORD  of  heaven  and  earth  /  swear  that  this  is 
certainly  the  truth  ;  according  to  what  ye  yourselves  speak. 
Hath  not  the  story  of  Abraham's  honored  guests  come  to  thy 
knowledge  ?  When  they  went  in  unto  him,  and  said,  Peace :  he 
answered  Peace ;  saying  within  himself,  These  are  unknown 
people.  And  he  went  privately  unto  his  family,  and  brought  a 
fatted  calf.  And  he  set  it  before  them,  and  when  he  saw  they 
touched  it  not,  he  said,  Do  ye  not  eat  ?  And  he  began  to  enter- 
tain a  fear  of  them.  They  said,  Fear  not :  and  they  declared 
unto  him  the  promise  of  a  wise  youth.  And  his  wife  drew  near 
with  exclamation,  and  she  smote  her  face,  and  said,  /  am  an 
old  woman,  and  barren.  The  angels  answered,  Thus  saith 
thy  LORD  :  verily  he  is  the  wise,  the  knowing.  And  Abra- 
ham said  unto  them,  What  is  your  errand,  therefore,  O  mes- 
sengers of  God  f  They  answered,  Verily  we  are  sent  unto  a 
wicked  people :  that  we  may  send  down  upon  them  stones  of 
baked  clay,  marked  from  thy  LORD,  for  the  destruction  of 
transgressors.  And  we  brought  forth  the  true  believers  who 
were  in  the  city:  but  we  found  not  therein  more  than  one 
family  of  Moslems.  And  we  overthrew  the  same,  and  left  a 
sign  therein  unto  those  who  dread  the  severe  chastisement  of 
God.  In  Moses  also  was  a  sign :  when  we  sent  him  unto 
Pharaoh  with  manifest  power.  But  he  turned  back,  with  his 
orinces,  saying,  This  man  is  a  sorcerer,  or  a  madman.  Where- 
fore we  took  him  and  his  forces,  and  cast  them  into  the  sea : 
and  he  was  one  worthy  of  reprehension.  And  in  the  tribe  of 
96 


402  AL  KORAN. 

Ad  also  was  a  sign :  when  we  sent  against  them  a  destroying 
wind ;  it  touched  not  aught  whereon  it  came,  but  it  rendered 
the  same  as  a  thing  rotten,  and  reduced  to  dust.  In  Thamud 
likewise  was  a  sign:  when  it  was  said  unto  them,  Enjoy 
yourselves  for  a  time.  But  they  insolently  transgressed  the 
command  of  their  LORD  :  wherefore  a  terrible  noise  from 
heaven  assailed  them,  while  they  looked  on  ;  and  they  were 
not  able  to  stand  on  their  feet,  neither  did  they  save  them- 
selves from  destruction.  And  the  people  of  Noah  did  we 
destroy  before  these :  for  they  were  a  people  who  enormously 
transgressed.  We  have  built  the  heaven  with  might ;  and 
we  have  given  it  a  large  extent :  and  we  have  stretched  forth 
the  earth  beneath  ;  and  how  evenly  have  we  spread  the  same .' 
And  of  everything  have  we  created  two  kinds,  that  perad- 
venture  ye  may  consider.  Fly,  therefore,  unto  GOD  ;  verily 
I  am  a  public  warner  unto  you,  from  him.  And  set  not  up 
another  god  with  the  true  GOD  :  verily  I  am  a  public  warner 
unto  you,  from  him.  In  like  manner  there  came  no  apostle 
unto  their  predecessors,  but  they  said,  This  man  is  a  magician, 
or  a  madman.  Have  they  bequeathed  this  behavior  succes- 
sively the  one  to  the  other  ?  Yea ;  they  are  a  people  who 
enormously  transgress.  Wherefore  withdraw  from  them  ; 
and  thou  shall  not  be  blameworthy  in  so  doing.  Yet  continue 
to  admonish  :  for  admonition  profiteth  the  true  believers.  I 
have  not  created  genii  and  men  for  any  other  end  than  that 
they  should  serve  me.  I  require  not  any  sustenance  from 
them ;  neither  will  I  that  they  feed  me.  Verily  GOD  is 
he  who  provideth  for  all  creatures;  possessed  of  mighty 
power.  Unto  those  who  shall  injure  our  apostle  shall  be  given 
a  portion  like  unto  the  portion  of  those  who  behaved  like 
them  in  times  past ;  and  they  shall  not  wish  the  same  to  b« 
hastened.  Woe,  therefore,  to  the  unbelievers,  because  of  their 
day  with  which  they  are  threatened  ! 


AL  KOBAN.  403 

CHAPTER  LIL 

IMTITLKD,  THE  MOUNTAIN;  BETEALED  AT  XXOOA. 

IV   THI   NAME    OF    THH   MOST   MBKCIIUL   GOD. 

BT  the  mountain  of  Sinai  ;  and  by  the  book  written  in 
au  expanded  scroll ;  and  by  the  visited  house ;  and  by  the 
elevated  roof  of  heaven  ;  and  by  the  swelling  ocean :  verily 
the  punishment  of  thy  LORD  will  surely  descend ;  there  shall 
be  none  to  withhold  it.  On  that  day  the  heaven  shall  be 
shaken,  and  shall  reel;  and  the  mountains  shall  walk  and 
pass  away.  And  on  that  day  woe  be  unto  those  who  ac- 
cused Go<f  s  apostles  of  imposture ;  who  amused  themselves 
in  wading  in  vain  disputes!  On  that  day  shall  they  be 
driven  and  thrust  into  the  fire  of  hell ;  and  it  shall  be  said 
unto  them,  This  is  the  fire  which  ye  denied  as  a  fiction.  J» 
this  a  magic  illusion  ?  Or  do  ye  not  see  ?  Enter  the  same 
to  be  scorched :  whether  ye  bear  your  torments  patiently,  or 
impatiently,  it  will  be  equal  unto  you :  ye  shall  surely  receive 
the  reward  of  that  which  ye  have  wrought.  But  the  pious 
shall  dwell  amidst  gardens  and  pleasures;  delighting  them- 
selves in  what  their  LORD  shall  have  given  them :  and  their 
LORD  shall  deliver  them  from  the  pains  of  hell.  And  it  shall 
be  said  unto  them,  Eat  and  drink  with  easy  digestion ;  because 
of  that  which  ye  have  wrought :  leaning  on  couches  disposed 
in  order :  and  we  will  espouse  them  unto  virgins  having  large 
black  eyes.  And  unto  those  who  believe,  and  whose  offspring 
follow  them  in  the  faith,  we  will  join  their  offspring  in  para- 
dise :  and  we  will  not  diminish  unto  them  aught  of  the  merit 
of  their  works.  (Every  man  t*  given  in  pledge  for  that 
which  he  shall  have  wrought.)  And  we  will  give  them  fruits 
in  abundance,  and  flesh  of  the  kinds  which  they  shall  desire. 
They  shall  present  unto  one  another  therein  a  cup  of  toine, 
wherein  there  shall  be  no  vain  discourse,  nor  any  incitement 
unto  wickedness.  And  youths  appointed  to  attend  them  shall 
go  round  them  :  beautiful  as  pearls  hidden  in  their  shell.  And 
they  shall  approach  unto  one  another,  and  shall  ask  mutual 
questions.  And  they  shall  say,  Verily  we  were  heretofore 
midst  our  family,  in  great  dread  vrith  regard  to  our  state 


404  AL  KORAN. 

after  death :  but  Gob  hath  been  gracious  unto  us,  and  hath 
delivered  us  from  the  pain  of  burning  fire:  for  we  called 
on  him  heretofore ;  and  he  is  the  beneficent,  the  merciful. 
Wherefore  do  thou,  0  prophet,  admonish  thy  people.  Thou 
art  not,  by  the  grace  of  thy  LORD,  a  soothsayer,  or  a  mad- 
man. Do  they  say,  He  is  a  poet ;  we  wait,  concerning  him, 
scene  adverse  turn  of  fortune  ?  Say,  Wait  ye  my  ruin  : 
verily  I  wait,  with  you,  the  time  of  your  destruction.  Do 
their  mature  understandings  bid  them  say  this  ;  or  are  they 
people  who  perversely  transgress  ?  Do  they  say,  He  hath 
forged  the  Koran  ?  Verily  they  believe  not.  Let  them  pro- 
duce a  discourse  like  unto  it,  if  they  speak  truth.  Were  they 
created  by  nothing ;  or  were  they  creators  of  themselves  ? 
Did  they  create  the  heavens  and  the  earth?  Verily  they 
are  not  firmly  persuaded  that  God  hath  created  them.  Are 
the  stores  of  thy  LORD  in  their  hands  ?  Are  they  the  su- 
preme dispensers  of  all  things  ?  Have  they  a  ladder  where- 
by they  may  ascend  to  heaven,  and  hear  the  discourses  of  the 
angels  ?  Let  one,  therefore,  who  hath  heard  them,  produce 
an  evident  proof  thereof.  Hath  God  daughters,  and  have  ye 
sons  ?  Dost  thou  ask  them  a  reward  for  thy  preaching  ?  but 
they  are  laden  with  debts.  Are  the  secrets  of  futurity  with 
them ;  and  do  they  transcribe  the  same  from  the  table  of 
God's  degrees  ?  Do  they  seek  to  lay  a  plot  against  thee  ? 
But  the  unbelievers  are  they  who  shall  be  circumvented. 
Have  they  any  god,  besides  GOD?  Far  be  GOD  exalted 
above  the  idols  which  they  associate  with  him !  If  they 
should  see  a  fragment  of  the  heaven  falling  down  upon 
them,  they  would  say,  It  is  only  a  thick  cloud.  Where- 
fore leave  them,  until  they  arrive  at  their  day  wherein  they 
shall  swoon  for  fear :  a  day,  in  which  their  subtle  contrivances 
shall  not  avail  them  at  all,  neither  shall  they  be  protected. 
And  those  who  act  unjustly  shall  surely  suffer  another  punish- 
ment besides  this :  but  the  greater  part  of  them  do  not  un- 
derstand. And  wait  thou  patiently  the  judgment  of  thy  LORD 
concerning  them  ;  for  thou  art  in  our  eye  :  and  celebrate  the 
praise  of  thy  LORD,  when  thou  risest  up ;  and  praise  him  in 
the  night-season,  and  when  the  stars  begin  to  disappear. 


AL  KORAN.  403 

CHAPTER  LIIL 

JTTITLED,    THE    STAB;    REVEALED    AT   MECCA. 
IN   THE   KAME    OF    THE    MOST    MERCIFUL    GOD. 


BY  the  star,  when  it  setteth  ;  your  companion 
erreth  not  ;  nor  is  he  led  astray  :  neither  doth  he  speak  of  hit 
own  will.  It  is  no  other  than  a  revelation,  which  hath  been 
revealed  unto  him.  One  mighty  in  power,  endued  with  un- 
derstanding, taught  it  him  :  and  he  appeared  in  the  highest 
part  of  the  horizon.  Afterwards  he  approached  the  prophet, 
and  near  unto  him  ;  until  he  was  at  the  distance  of  two  bows' 
length  from  him,  or  yet  nearer  ;  and  he  revealed  unto  his 
servant  that  which  he  revealed.  The  heart  of  Mohammed 
did  not  falsely  represent  that  which  he  saw.  Will  ye  there- 
fore dispute  with  him  concerning  that  which  he  saw  ?  He 
also  saw  him  another  time,  by  the  lote-tree  beyond  which 
there  is  no  passing:  near  it  is  the  garden  of  eternal  abode. 
When  the  lote-tree  covered  that  which  it  covered,  his  eye- 
sight turned  not  aside,  neither  did  it  wander  :  and  he  really 
beheld  some  of  the  greatest  signs  of  his  LORD.  What  think 
ye  of  Allat,  and  Al  Uzza,  and  Manah,  that  other  third  god- 
dess ?  Have  ye  male  children,  and  God  female  ?  This,  there- 
fore, is  an  unjust  partition.  They  are  no  other  than  empty 
names,  which  ye  and  your  fathers  have  named  goddesses. 
GOD  hath  not  revealed  concerning  them  anything  to  au- 
thorize their  worship.  They  follow  no  other  than  a  vain 
opinion,  and  what  their  souls  desire  :  yet  hath  the  true  direc- 
tion come  unto  them  from  their  LORD.  Shall  man  have 
whatever  he  wisheth  for  ?  The  life  to  come  and  the  pra  ent 
h'fe  are  GOD'S  :  and  how  many  angels  soever  there  be  in  the 
heavens,  their  intercession  shall  be  of  no  avail,  until  after 
GOD  shall  have  granted  permission  unto  whom  he  shall 
please  and  shall  accept.  Verily  they  who  believe  not  in 
the  life  to  come  give  unto  the  angels  a  female  appellation. 
But  they  have  no  knowledge  herein  :  they  follow  no  other 
than  a  bare  opinion  ;  and  a  bare  opinion  attaineth  not  any- 
thing of  truth.  Wherefore  withdraw  from  him  who  turneth 
•way  from  our  admonition,  and  seeketh  only  the  present  h'fe. 


406  AL  KORAN. 

This  is  their  highest  pitch  of  knowledge.  Verily  thy  LORD 
well  knoweth  him  who  erreth  from  his  way;  and  he  well 
knoweth  him  who  is  rightly  directed.  Unto  GOD  belongeth 
whatever  is  in  heaven  and  earth :  that  he  may  reward  those 
who  do  evil,  according  to  that  which  they  shall  have  wrought ; 
and  may  reward  those  who  do  well,  with  the  most  excellent 
reward.  As  to  those  who  avoid  great  crimes,  and  heinous 
sins,  and  are  guilty  only  of  lighter  faults ;  verily  thy  LORD 
will  be  extensive  in  mercy  towards  them.  He  well  knew  you 
when  he  produced  you  out  of  the  earth,  and  when  ye  wer« 
embryos  in  your  mothers'  wombs :  wherefore  justify  not  your- 
selves :  he  best  knoweth  the  man  who  feareth  him.  What 
thinkest  thou  of  him  who  turneth  aside  from  following  th* 
truth,  and  giveth  little,  and  covetously  stoppeth  his  hand  ?  -fir 
the  knowledge  of  futurity  with  him,  so  that  he  seeth  the 
same?  Hath  he  not  been  informed  of  that  which  is  con- 
tained in  the  books  of  Moses,  and  of  Abraham  who  faithfully 
performed  his  engagements  f  To  wit :  that  a  burdened  soul 
shall  not  bear  the  burden  of  another ;  and  that  nothing  shatt 
be  imputed  to  a  man  for  righteousness,  except  his  own  labor  ; 
and  that  his  labor  shall  surely  be  made  manifest  hereafter, 
and  that  he  shall  be  rewarded  for  the  same  with  a  most 
abundant  reward ;  and  that  unto  thy  LORD  will  be  the  end 
of  all  things ;  and  that  he  causeth  to  laugh,  and  causeth  to 
weep;  and  that  he  putteth  to  death,  and  giveth  life:  and 
that  he  createth  the  two  sexes,  the  male  and  the  female,  of 
seed  when  it  is  emitted  ;  and  that  unto  him  appertained  an- 
other production,  namely,  the  raising  of  the  dead  again  to  life 
hereafler  ;  and  that  he  enricheth,  and  causeth  to  acquire  pos- 
sessions ;  and  that  he  is  the  LORD  of  the  dog-star ;  and  that 
he  destroyed  the  ancient  tribe  of  Ad,  and  Thamud,  and  left 
not  any  of  them  alive ;  and  also  the  people  of  Noah,  before 
them ;  for  they  were  most  unjust  and  wicked :  and  he  over- 
threw the  cities  which  were  turned  upside  down ;  and  that 
which  covered  them,  covered  them.  Which,  therefore,  of 
thy  LORD'S  benefits,  0  man,  wilt  thou  call  in  question  ?  This 
our  apostle  is  a  preacher  like  the  preachers  who  preceded 
him.  The  approaching  day  of  judgment  draweth  near :  there 
is  none  who  can  reveal  the  exact  time  of  the  same,  besides 
GOD.  Do  ye,  therefore,  wonder  at  this  new  revelation,  and 
do  ye  laugh,  arid  not  weep,  spending  your  time  in  idle  diver- 
sions ?  But  rather  worship  GOD,  and  serve  him. 


1L    KORAN.  407 

CHAPTER  LIV. 

DCTITLED,    THE    MOON  ;    REVEALED    AT    MECCA, 
nr  THE  irtiu  or  THE  MOST  MERCIFUL  GOD. 

THE  hour  of  judgment  approacheth ;  and  the  moon  hath 
been  split  in  sunder :  but  if  the  unbelievers  see  a  sign,  they 
turn  aside,  saying,  This  is  a  powerful  charm.  And  they 
accuse  thee,  0  Mohammed,  of  imposture,  and  follow  their 
own  lusts  •  but  everything  will  be  immutably  fixed.  And 
now  hath  a  message  come  unto  them,  wherein  is  a  determent 
from  obstinate  infidelity;  the  same  being  consummate  wis- 
dom :  but  warners  profit  them  not ;  wherefore  do  thou  with- 
draw from  them.  The  day  whereon  the  summoner  shall 
summon  mankind  to  an  ungrateful  business,  they  shall  come 
forth  from  their  graves  with  downcast  looks :  numerous  as 
locusts  scattered  far  abroad ;  hastening  with  terror  unto  the 
summoner.  The  unbelievers  shall  say,  This  is  a  day  of  dis- 
tress. The  people  of  Noah  accused  that  prophet  of  impos- 
ture, before  thy  people  rejected  thee:  they  accused  our  servant 
of  imposture,  saying,  He  is  a  madman ;  and  he  was  rejected 
with  reproach.  He  called,  therefore,  upon  his  LORD,  saying, 
Verily  I  am  overpowered ;  wherefore  avenge  me.  So  we 
opened  the  gates  of  heaven,  with  water  pouring  down,  and 
we  caused  the  earth  to  break  forth  into  springs ;  so  that  the 
water  of  heaven  and  earth  met,  according  to  the  decree  which 
had  been  established.  And  we  bare  him  on  a  vessel  com- 
posed of  planks  and  nails ;  which  moved  forward  under  our 
eyes :  as  a  recompense  unto  him  who  had  been  ungratefully 
rejected.  And  we  left  the  said  vessel  for  a  sign :  but  is  any 
one  warned  thereby?  And  how  severe  was  my  vengeance, 
and  my  threatening!  Now  have  we  made  the  Koran  eat>_y 
for  admonition :  but  is  any  one  admonished  thereby  ?  A  1 
charged  their  prophet  with  imposture :  but  how  severe  was 
my  vengeance,  and  my  threatening !  Verily  we  sent  against 
them  a  roaring  wind,  on  a  day  of  continued  ill  luck ;  it  car- 
ried men  away,  as  though  they  had  been  roots  of  palm-trees 
forcibly  torn  up.  And  how  severe  was  my  vengeance  and 
my  threatening !  Now  have  we  made  the  Koran  easy  for 


408  AL    KORAN. 

admonition :  but  t*  any  one  admonished  thereby  ?  Thamud 
charged  the  admonitions  of  their  prophet  with  falsehood,  and 
said,  Shall  we  follow  a  single  man  among  us?  verily  we 
should  then  be  guilty  of  error,  and  preposterous  madness :  in 
the  office  of  admonition  committed  unto  him  preferably  to  tht 
rest  of  us  ?  Nay  ;  he  is  a  liar,  and  an  insolent  fellow.  But 
God  said  to  Saleh,  To-morrow  shall  they  know  Tvho  is  the 
liar,  and  the  insolent  person :  for  we  will  surely  send  the 
she-camel  for  a  trial  of  them :  and  do  thou  observe  them,  and 
bear  their  insults  with  patience  :  and  prophesy  unto  them 
that  the  water  shall  be  divided  between  them,  and  each  por- 
tion shall  be  sat  down  to  alternately.  And  they  called  their 
companion :  and  he  took  a  sword,  and  slew  her.  But  how 
severe  was  my  vengeance,  and  my  threatening !  For  we  sent 
against  them  one  ciy  of  the  angel  Gabriel;  and  they  became 
like  the  dry  sticks  used  by  him  who  buildeth  a  fold  for  cattl< •. 
And  now  have  we  made  the  Koran  easy  for  admonition :  but 
is  any  one  admonished  thereby  ?  The  people  of  Lot  charged 
his  preaching  with  falsehood :  but  we  sent  against  them  a 
wind  driving  a  shower  of  stones,  which  destroyed  them  aR 
except  the  family  of  Lot ;  whom  we  delivered  early  in  the 
morning,  through  favor  from  us.  Thus  do  we  reward  those 
who  are  thankful.  And  Lot  had  warned  them  of  our  severity 
in  chastising  ;  but  they  doubted  of  that  warning.  And  they 
demanded  his  guests  of  him,  that  they  might  abuse  them :  but 
we  put  out  their  eyes,  saying,  Taste  my  vengeance,  and  my 
threatening.  And  early  in  the  morning  a  lasting  punishment 
surprised  them.  Taste,  therefore,  my  vengeance,  and  my 
threatening.  Now  have  we  made  the  Koran  easy  for  admo- 
nition :  but  is  any  one  admonished  thereby  ?  The  warning 
of  Moses  also  came  unto  the  people  of  Pharaoh ;  but  they 
charged  every  one  of  our  signs  with  imposture :  wherefore 
.ve  chastised  them  with  a  mighty  and  irresistible  chastise- 
ment. Are  your  unbelievers,  0  Meccans,  better  than  these  ? 
Is  immunity  from  punishment  promised  unto  you  in  the 
scriptures  ?  Do  they  say,  We  are  a  body  of  men  able  to 
prevail  against  our  enemies  ?  The  multitude  shall  surely  be 
put  to  flight,  and  shall  turn  their  back.  But  the  hour  of 
judgment  is  their  threatened  time  of  punishment:  and  that 
hour  shall  be  more  grievous  and  more  bitter  than  their  afflic- 
tions in  this  life.  Verily  the  wicked  wander  in  error,  and 
tormented  hereafter  in  burning  flames.  On  that  day 


AL  KORAN.  409 

they  shall  be  dragged  into  the  fire  on  their  faces;  and  it 
shatt  be  said  unto  them,  Taste  ye  the  touch  of  hell.  All 
things  have  we  created  bound  by  a  fixed  decree :  and  our 
command  is  no  more  than  a  single  word,  like  the  twinkling 
of  an  eye.  We  have  formerly  destroyed  nations  like  unto 
you ;  but  is  any  of  you  warned  by  their  example  ?  Every- 
thing which  they  do  is  recorded  in  the  books  kept  by  the  guar- 
dian angels:  and  every  action  both  small  and  great,  is  written 
down  in  the  preserved  table.  Moreover  the  pious  shall  dweQ 
among  gardens  and  rivers,  in  the  assembly  of  truth,  in  the 
presence  of  a  most  potent  king. 


CHAPTER  LV. 

INTITLED,    THE    MERCIFUL  ;    REVEALED    AT    MECCA. 
IN    THE    NAME    OF    THE    HOST    MERCIFUL   OOD. 

THE  Merciful  hath  taught  his  servant  the  Koran.  He 
created  man :  he  hath  taught  him  distinct  speech.  The  sun 
and  the  moon  run  their  courses  according  to  a  certain  rule : 
and  the  vegetables  which  creep  on  the  ground,  and  the  trees 
submit  to  his  disposition.  He  also  raised  the  heaven  ;  and 
he  appointed  the  balance,  that  ye  should  not  transgress  in 
respect  to  the  balance :  wherefore  observe  a  just  weight ;  and 
diminish  not  the  balance.  And  the  earth  hath  he  prepared 
for  living  creatures :  therein  are  various  fruits,  and  palm- 
trees  bearing  sheaths  of  flowers ;  and  grain  having  chaff, 
and  leaves.  Which,  therefore,  of  your  LORD'S  benefits  will 
ye  ungratefully  deny?  He  created  man  of  dried  clay  like 
an  earthen  vessel :  but  he  created  the  genii  of  fire  clear  from 
smoke.  Which,  therefore,  of  your  LORD'S  benefits  will  ye 
ungratefully  deny?  He  is  the  LORD  of  the  east,  and  the 
LORD  of  the  west.  Which,  therefore,  of  your  LORD'S  bene- 
fits will  ye  ungratefully  deny  ?  He  hath  let  loose  the  two  seas, 
that  they  meet  each  another :  between  them  is  placed  a  bar 
which  they  cannot  pass.  Which,  therefore,  of  your  LORD'S 
benefits  will  ye  ungratefully  deny  ?  From  them  are  taken 


410  AL   KORAN. 

forth  unions  and  lesser  pearls.  Which,  therefore,  of  your 
LORD'S  benefits  will  ye  ungratefully  deny  ?  His  also  are 
the  ships,  carrying  their  sails  aloft  in  the  sea  like  mountains. 
Which,  therefore,  of  your  LORD'S  benefits  will  ye  ungrate- 
fully deny  ?  Every  creature  which  liveth  on  the  earth  is  sub- 
ject to  decay :  but  the  glorious  and  honorable  countenance 
of  thy  LORD  shall  remain  forever.  Which,  therefore,  of 
your  LORD'S  benefits  will  ye  ungratefully  deny  ?  Unto  him 
do  all  creatures  which  are  in  heaven  and  earth  make  peti- 
tion :  every  day  is  he  employed  in  some  new  work.  Which, 
therefore,  of  your  LORD'S  benefits  will  ye  ungratefully  deny? 
We  will  surely  attend  to  judge  you,  O  men  and  genii,  at  the 
last  day.  Which,  therefore,  of  your  LORD'S  benefits  will  ye 
ungratefully  deny  ?  0  ye  collective  body  of  genii  and  men, 
if  ye  be  able  to  pass  out  of  the  confines  of  heaven  and  earth, 
pass  forth :  ye  shall  not  pass  forth  but  by  absolute  power. 
Which,  therefore,  of  your  LORD'S  benefits  will  ye  ungrate- 
fully deny  ?  A  flame  of  fire  without  smoke,  and  a  smoke 
without  flame  shall  be  sent  down  upon  you ;  and  ye  shall  not 
be  able  to  defend  yourselves  therefrom.  Which,  therefore, 
of  your  LORD'S  benefits  will  ye  ungratefully  deny  ?  And 
when  the  heaven  shall  be  rent  in  sunder,  and  shall  become 
red  as  a  rose,  and  shall  melt  like  ointment :  (  Which,  there- 
fore, of  your  LORD'S  benefits  will  ye  ungratefully  deny?) 
On  that  day  neither  man  nor  genius  shall  be  asked  concern- 
ing his  sin.  Which,  therefore,  of  your  LORD'S  benefits  will 
ye  ungratefully  deny  ?  The  wicked  shall  be  known  by  their 
marks ;  and  they  shall  be  taken  by  the  forelocks,  and  the 
feet,  and  shall  be  cast  into  hell.  Which,  therefore,  of  your 
LORD'S  benefits  will  ye  ungratefully  deny?  This  is  hell, 
which  the  wicked  deny  as  a  falsehood :  they  shall  pass  to 
and  fro  between  the  same  and  hot  boiling  water.  Which, 
therefore,  of  your  LORD'S  benefits  will  ye  ungratefully  deny? 
But  for  him  who  dreadeth  the  tribunal  of  his  LORD  are  pre- 
pared two  gardens :  ( Which,  therefore,  of  your  LORD'S 
benefits  will  ye  ungratefully  deny  ?)  planted  with  shady 
trees.  Which,  therefore,  of  your  LORD'S  benefits  will  ye 
ungratefully  deny  ?  In  each  of  them  shall  be  two  fountains 
flowing.  Which,  therefore,  of  your  LORD'S  benefits  will  ye 
ungratefully  deny  ?  In  each  of  them  shall  there  be  of  every 
fruit  two  kinds.  Which,  therefore,  of  your  LORD'S  benefits 
will  ye  ungratefully  deny  ?  They  shall  repose  on  couches, 


\L  KORAN.  411 

the  linings  whereof  shall  be  of  thick  silk  interwoven  with 
gold :  and  the  fruit  of  the  two  gardens  ghall  be  near  at 
hand  together.  Which,  therefore,  of  your  LORD'S  benefits 
will  ye  ungratefully  deny  ?  Therein  shall  receive  them  beau- 
teous damsels,  refraining  their  eyes  from  beholding  any  besides 
their  spouses :  whom  no  man  shall  have  deflowered  before 
them,  neither  any  genius  :  (  Which,  therefore,  of  your  LORD'S 
benefits  will  ye  ungratefully  deny?)  Having  complexion* 
like  rubies  and  pearls.  Which,  therefore,  of  your  LORD'S 
benefits  will  ye  ungratefully  deny  ?  Shall  the  reward  of  good 
works  be  any  other  good  ?  Which,  therefore,  of  your  LORD'S 
benefits  will  ye  ungratefully  deny  ?  And  besides  these  there 
ihatt  be  two  other  gardens :  ( Which,  therefore,  of  your  LORD'S 
benefits  will  ye  ungratefully  deny?)  Of  a  dark  green. 
Which,  therefore,  of  your  LORD'S  benefits  will  ye  ungrate- 
fully deny  ?  In  each  of  them  shall  be  two  fountains  pouring 
forth  plenty  of  water.  Which,  therefore,  of  your  LORD'S 
benefits  will  ye  ungratefully  deny?  In  each  of  them  shall 
be  fruits,  and  palm-trees,  and  pomegranates.  Which,  there- 
fore, of  your  LORD'S  benefits  will  ye  ungratefully  deny  ? 
Therein  shall  be  agreeable  and  beauteous  damsels:  Which, 
therefore,  of  your  LORD'S  benefits  will  ye  ungratefully  deny? 
Having  fine  black  eyes,  and  kept  in  pavilions  from  public 
view:  Which,  therefore,  of  your  LORD'S  benefits  will  ye 
ungratefully  deny  ?  Whom  no  man  shall  have  deflowered 
before  their  destined  spouses,  nor  any  genius.  Which,  there- 
fore, of  your  LORD'S  benefits  will  ye  ungratefully  deny  ? 
Therein  shall  they  delight  themselves,  lying  on  green  cushions 
and  beautiful  carpets.  Which,  therefore,  of  your  LORD'I 
benefits  will  ye  ungratefully  deny?  Blessed  be  the 
of  thy  LORD,  possessed  of  glory  and  honor  I 


412  AJ,  KOKAN. 

CHAPTER   LVI. 

IKTITLED,   THB    INEVITABLE  ;   REVEALED   AT    MKOGA. 
IP    THB   NAME   OF    THB   MOST   MEKC1FOL   GOD. 

WHEN  the  inevitable  day  of  judgment  shall  suddenly  come, 
no  soul  shall  charge  the  prediction  of  its  coming  with  false- 
hood :  it  will  abase  some,  and  exalt  others.  When  the  earth 
shall  be  shaken  with  a  violent  shock  ;  and  the  mountains  shall 
be  dashed  in  pieces,  and  shall  become  as  dust  scattered  abroad ; 
and  ye  shall  be  separated  into  three  distinct  classes :  the  com- 
panions of  the  right  hand  ;  (how  happy  shall  the  companions 
of  the  right  hand  be  /)  and  the  companions  of  the  left  hand  : 
(how  miserable  shall  the  companions  of  the  left  hand  be!) 
and  those  who  have  preceded  others  in  the  faith  shall  precede 
them  to  paradise.  These  are  they  who  shall  approach  near 
unto  God :  they  shall  dwell  in  gardens  of  delight :  (  T/iere  shall 
be  many  of  the  former  religions  ;  and  few  of  the  last.)  Re- 
posing on  couches  adorned  with  gold  and  precious  stones  ; 
sitting  opposite  to  one  another  thereon.  Youths  which  shall 
continue  in  their  bloom  forever,  shall  go  round  about  to  attend 
them,  with  goblets,  and  beakers,  and  a  cup  of  flowing  wine : 
their  heads  shall  not  ache  by  drinking  the  same,  neither  shall 
their  reason  be  disturbed :  and  with  fruits  of  the  sorts  which 
they  shall  choose,  and  the  flesh  of  birds  of  the  kind  which 
they  shall  desire.  And  there  shall  accompany  them  fair  dam- 
sels having  large  black  eyes  ;  resembling  pearls  hidden  in 
their  shells :  as  a  reward  for  that  which  they  shall  have 
wrought.  They  shall  not  hear  therein  any  vain  discourse, 
or  any  charge  of  sin  ;  but  only  the  salutation,  Peace  !  Peace  ! 
And  the  companions  of  the  right  hand  (how  happy  shall  the 
companions  of  the  right  hand  be !)  shall  have  their  abode 
among  lote-trees  free  from  thorns,  and  trees  of  mauz  loaded 
regularly  with  their  produce  from  top  to  bottom ;  under  an 
extended  shade,  near  a  flowing  water,  and  amidst  fruits  in 
abundance,  which  .shall  not  fail,  nor  shall  be  forbidden  to  be 
gathered:  and  they  shall  repose  themselves  on  lofty  beds. 
Verily  we  have  created  the  damsels  of  paradise  by  a  peculiar 
creation  :  and  we  have  made  them  virgins,  beloved  by  theh 


AL  KORAN.  413 

husbands,  of  equal  age  with  them  ;  for  the  delight  of  the  com 
panions  of  the  right  hand.  I  There  shall  be  many  of  the  for- 
mer religions,  and  many  of  the  latter.  And  the  companions 
of  the  left  hand  ( how  miserable  shall  the  companions  of  the 
left  hand  be  /)  shall  dwell  amidst  burning  winds,  and  scalding 
water,  under  the  shade  of  a  black  smoke,  neither  cool  noi 
agreeable.  For  they  enjoyed  the  pleasures  of  life  before  this, 
while  on  earth;  and  obstinately  persisted  in  a  heinous  wick- 
edness :  and  they  said,  After  we  shall  have  died,  and  become 
dust  and  bones,  shall  we  surely  be  raised  to  life  ?  Shall  our 
forefathers  also  be  raised  with  us  ?  Say,  Verily  both  the  first 
and  the  last  shall  surely  be  gathered  together  to  judgment,  at 
the  prefixed  time  of  a  known  day.  Then  ye,  0  men,  who 
have  erred,  and  denied  the  resurrection  as  a  falsehood,  shall 
surely  eat  of  the  fruit  of  the  tree  of  al  Zakkum,  and  shall 
fill  your  bellies  therewith  :  and  ye  shall  drink  thereon  boiling 
water  ;  and  ye  shall  drink  as  a  thirsty  camel  drinketh.  This 
thall  be  their  entertainment  on  the  day  of  judgment.  We 
have  created  you :  will  ye  not  therefore  believe  that  we  can 
raise  you  from  the  dead  ?  What  think  ye  ?  The  seed  which 
ye  emit,  do  ye  create  the  same,  or  are  we  the  creators  thereof  f 
We  have  decreed  death  unto  you  all:  and  we  shall  not  be 
prevented.  We  are  able  to  substitue  others  like  unto  you  in 
your  stead,  and  to  produce  you  again  in  the  condition  or  form 
which  ye  know  not.  Ye  know  the  original  production  by 
creation  ;  will  ye  not  therefore  consider  that  we  are  able  to  pro- 
duce you  by  resuscitation  ?  What  think  ye  ?  The  grain  which 
ye  sow,  do  ye  cause  the  same  to  spring  forth,  or  do  we  cause  it 
to  spring  forth  ?  If  we  pleased,  verily  we  could  render  the 
same  dry  and  fruitless,  so  that  ye  would  not  cease  to  wonder, 
laying,  Verily  we  have  contracted  debts  for  seed  and  labor, 
but  we  are  not  permitted  to  reap  the  fruit  thereof.  What 
think  ye  ?  The  water  which  ye  drink,  do  ye  send  down  the 
same  from  the  clouds,  or  are  we  the  senders  thereof?  If  we 
pleased,  we  could  render  the  same  brackish  :  will  ye  not  there- 
fore give  thanks  ?  What  think  ye  ?  The  fire  which  ye 
strike,  do  ye  produce  the  tree  whence  ye  obtain  the  same,  or 
are  we  the  producers  thereof?  We  have  ordained  the  .same 
for  an  admonition,  and  an  advantage  to  those  who  travel 
through  the  deserts.  Wherefore  praise  the  name  of  thy 
LOKD,  t're  great  God.  Moreover  I  swear  by  the  setting  of 
the  stars ;  (and  it  i>  surely  a  great  oath,  if  ye  knew  it ;)  that 


414  AL  KORAN. 

this  it  the  excellent  Koran,  the,  original  whereof  is  written  ia 
the  preserved  book  :  none  shall  touch  the  same,  except  those 
who  are  clean.  It  is  a  revelation  from  the  LORD  of  all 
creatures.  Will  ye,  therefore,  despise  this  new  revelation  ? 
And  do  ye  make  this  return  for  your  food  which  ye  receive 
from  God,  that  ye  deny  yourselves  to  be  obliged  to  him  for 
the  same  ?  "When  the  soul  of  a  dying  person  cometh  up  t« 
his  throat,  and  ye  at  the  same  time  are  looking  on  ;  (and  we 
are  nigher  unto  him  than  ye,  but  ye  see  not  his  true  condition  ;) 
would  ye  not,  if  ye  are  not  to  be  rewarded  for  your  action 
hereafter,  cause  the  same  to  return  into  the  body,  if  ye  speak 
the  truth  P1  And  whether  he  be  of  those  who  shall  approach 
near  unto  God,  his  reward  shall  be  rest,  and  mercy,  and  a 
garden  of  delights  :  or  whether  he  be  of  the  companions  of 
the  right  hand,  he  shall  be  saluted  with  the  salutation,  Peace 
be  unto  thee  !  by  the  companions  of  the  right  hand,  hit 
brethren :  or  whether  he  be  of  those  who  have  rejected  th* 
true  faith,  and  gone  astray,  his  entertainment  shall  consist  of 
boiling  water,  and  the  burning  of  hell  fire.  Verily  this  is  a 
certain  truth.  Wherefore  praise  the  name  of  thy  LORD,  the 
great  God. 


CHAPTER  LVIL 

INTITLED,  IRON;  REVEALED  AT  MECCA,  OB  AT  MEDIKA. 
IN  THE  NAME  OF  THE  MOST  MEKCIFCL  GOD. 

WHATEVER  is  in  heaven  and  earth  singeth  praise  unto 
GOD  ;  and  he  is  mighty  and  wise.  His  is  the  kingdom  of 
heaven  and  earth  ;  he  giveth  life,  and  he  putteth  to  death  ; 
and  he  is  almighty.  He  is  the  first,  and  the  last ;  the  mani- 
fest and  the  hidden  :  and  he  knoweth  all  things.  It  is  he  who 
created  the  heavens  and  the  earth  in  six  days,  and  then 
ascended  hit  throne.  He  knoweth  that  which  entereth  into 
the  earth,  and  that  which  issueth  out  of  the  same,  and  that 
which  descendeth  from  heaven,  and  that  which  ascendeth 
thereto;  and  he  it  with  you,  wheresoever  ye  be:  for  GOD 


AL  KORAN.  415 

•eeth  that  which  ye  do.  His  it  the  kingdom  of  heaven  and 
earth ;  and  unto  GOD  shall  all  things  return.  He  causeth  the 
'ight  to  succeed  the  day,  and  he  causeth  the  day  to  succeed 
tiie  night ;  and  he  knoweth  the  innermost  part  of  men's 
breasts.  Believe  in  GOD  and  his  apostle,  and  lay  out  in  aim* 
a  part  of  the  wealth  whereof  GOD  hath  made  you  inheritors  : 
for  unto  such  of  you  as  believe,  and  bestow  alms,  shall  be  given 
a  great  reward.  And  what  aileth  you,  that  ye  believe  not  in 
GOD,  when  the  apostle  inviteth  you  to  believe  in  your  LORD 
and  he  hath  received  your  covenant  concerning  this  matter,  if 
ye  believe  any  proposition  ?  It  is  he  who  hath  sent  down  unto 
his  servant  evident  signs,  that  he  may  lead  you  out  of  dark- 
ness into  light ;  for  GOD  is  compassionate  and  merciful  unto 
you.  And  what  aileth  you,  that  ye  contribute  not  of  your 
tubstance  for  the  defence  of  GOD'S  true  religion  ?  Since 
unto  GOD  appertaineth  the  inheritance  of  heaven  and  earth. 
Those  among  you  who  shall  have  contributed  and  fought  in 
defence  of  the  faith,  before  the  taking  of  Mecca,  shall  not  be 
held  equal  with  those  who  shall  contribute  and  jight  for  the 
same  afterwards.  These  shall  be  superior  in  degree  unto 
those  who  shall  contribute  and  fight  for  the  propagation  of 
the  faith,  after  the  above-mentioned  success  ;  but  unto  all  hath 
GOD  promised  a  most  excellent  reward;  and  GOD  well 
knoweth  that  which  ye  do.  Who  is  he  that  will  lend  unto 
GOD  an  acceptable  loan  ?  for  he  will  double  the  same  unto 
him,  and  he  shall  receive  moreover  an  honorable  reward.  On 
a  certain  day,  thou  shalt  see  the  true  believers  of  both  sexes : 
their  light  shall  run  before  them,  and  on  their  right  hands  ; 
and  it  shall  be  said  unto  them,  Good  tidings  unto  you  this  day : 
gardens  through  which  rivers  flow ;  ye  shall  remain  therein 
forever.  This  will  be  great  felicity.  On  that  day  the  hypo- 
critical men  and  the  hypocritical  women  shall  say  unto  those 
who  believe,  Stay  for  us,  that  we  may  borrow  some  of  your 
light.  It  shall  be  answered,  Return  back  into  the  world,  and 
ieek  light.  And  a  high  wall  shall  be  set  betwixt  them,  where- 
in shall  be  a  gate,  within  which  shall  be  mercy ;  and  without 
it,  over  against  the  same,  the  torment  of  hett.  The  hypocritet 
shall  call  out  unto  the  true  believers,  saying,  Were  we  not  with 
you  ?  They  shall  answer,  Yea ;  but  ye  seduced  your  own 
souls  by  your  hypocrisy  ;  and  ye  waited  our  ruin  ;  and  ye 
doubted  concerning  the  faith  ;  and  your  wishes  deceived  you, 
aniil  the  decree  of  GOD  came,  and  ye  died :  and  the  deceiver 


416  AL  KORAN. 

deceived  you  concerning  GOD.  This  day,  therefore,  a  rsw- 
Bom  shall  not  be  accepted  of  you,  nor  of  those  who  have  heen 
unbelievers.  Your  abode  shall  be  hell  fire  :  this  is  what  ye 
have  deserved  ;  and  an  unhappy  journey  shaU  it  be  thither! 
Is  not  the  time  yet  come  unto  those  who  believe,  that  their 
hearts  should  humbly  submit  to  the  admonition  of  GOD,  and 
to  that  truth  which  hath  been  revealed  ;  and  that  they  be  not 
as  those  unto  whom  the  scripture  was  given  heretofore,  and 
to  whom  the  time  of  forbearance  was  prolonged,  but  their 
hearts  were  hardened,  and  many  of  them  were  wicked  doers  ? 
Know  that  GOD  quickeneth  the  earth,  after  it  hath  been  dead. 
Now  have  we  distinctly  declared  our  signs  unto  you,  that  ye 
may  understand.  Verily  as  to  the  almsgivers,  both  men  and 
women,  and  those  who  lend  unto  GOD  an  acceptable  loan,  he 
will  double  the  same  unto  them  ;  and  they  shall  moreover  re- 
ceive an  honorable  reward.  And  they  who  believe  in  GOD 
and  his  apostles,  these  are  the  men  of  veracity,  and  the  wit- 
nesses in  the  presence  of  their  LORD  :  they  shall  have  their 
reward,  and  their  light.  But  as  to  those  who  believe  not,  and 
accuse  our  signs  of  falsehood,  they  shall  be  the  companions 
of  hell.  Know  that  this  present  life  is  only  a  toy  and  a  vain 
amusement :  and  icorldly  pomp,  and  the  affectation  of  glcry 
among  you,  and  the  multiplying  of  riches  and  children,  art 
as  the  plants  nourished  by  the  rain,  the  springing  up  whereof 
delighteth  the  husbandmen ;  afterwards  they  wither,  so  that 
thou  seest  the  same  turned  yellow,  and  at  length  they  become 
dry  stubble.  And  in  the  life  to  come  will  be  a  severe  punish- 
ment for  those  who  covet  worldly  grandeur  ;  and  pardon  from 
GOD,  and  favor  for  those  who  renounce  it :  for  this  present 
life  is  no  other  than  a  deceitful  provision.  Hasten  with  emula- 
tion to  obtain  pardon  from  your  LORD,  and  paradise,  the 
extent  whereof  equalleth  the  extent  of  heaven  and  earth, 
prepared  for  those  who  be!ieve  in  GOD  and  his  apostles. 
This  is  the  bounty  of  GOD  :  he  will  give  the  same  unto  whom 
he  pleaseth  ;  and  GOD  is  endued  with  great  bounty.  No  ac- 
cident happeneth  in  the  earth,  nor  in  your  persons,  but  the 
tame  was  entered  in  the  book  of  our  decrees,  before  we  created 
it :  verily  this  is  easy  with  GOD  :  and  this  is  written  lest  ye 
immoderately  grieve  for  the  good  which  escapethyou,  or  rejoice 
for  that  which  happened  unto  you  ;  for  GOD  loveth  no  proud 
»r  vain -glorious  person,  or  those  who  are  covetous,  and  com- 
mand men  covetousness.  And  whoso  turneth  aside  from 


AL  KORAN.  417 

jiving  alms;  verily  GOD  is  self-sufficient,  worthy  to  be 
praised.  We  formerly  sent  our  apostles  with  evident  miraclet 
and  arguments  ;  and  we  sent  down  with  them  the  scriptures, 
and  the  balance,  that  men  might  observe  justice  :  and  we  sent 
them  down  iron,  wherein  is  mighty  strength  for  war,  and  va 
rivus  advantages  unto  mankind :  that  GOD  may  know  who 
assisteth  him  and  his  apostles  in  secret ;  for  GOD  is  strong 
and  mighty.  We  formerly  sent  Noah  and  Abraham,  and 
we  established  in  their  posterity  the  gift  of  prophecy,  and 
the  scripture :  and  of  them  some  were  directed,  but  many  of 
them  were  evil-doers.  Afterwards  we  caused  our  apostles  to 
succeed  in  their  footsteps ;  and  we  caused  Jesus  the  son  of 
Mary  to  succeed  them,  and  we  gave  him  the  gospel :  and  we 
put  in  the  hearts  of  those  that  followed  him  compassion  and 
mercy :  but  as  to  the  monastic  state,  they  instituted  the  same 
(we  did  not  prescribe  it  to  them)  only  out  of  a  desire  to 
please  GOD  ;  yet  they  observed  not  the  same  as  it  ought 
truly  to  have  been  observed.  And  we  gave  unto  such  of 
them  as  believed  their  reward :  but  many  of  them  were 
wicked  doers.  O  ye  who  believe  in  the  prophets,  fear  GOD, 
and  believe  in  his  apostle  Mohammed:  he  will  give  you  two 
portions  of  his  mercy,  and  he  will  ordain  you  a  light  wherein 
ye  may  walk,  and  he  will  forgive  you  ;  for  GOD  is  ready  to 
forgive,  and  merciful :  that  those  who  have  received  the 
scriptures  may  know  that  they  have  not  power  over  any  of 
the  favors  of  GOD,  and  that  good  it  in  the  hand  of  GOD  ;  he 
bestoweth  the  same  on  whom  he  pleaseth ;  for  GOD  is  endued 
with  great  beneficence. 


CHAPTER  LVIIL 

INTITLED,    SHE    WHO   DISPUTED;    REVEALED    AT    MEDINA. 
IBT    THB   BAMB   OV   THE    MOST    MKKCITDL   SOD. 

Now  bath  GOD  heard  the  speech  of  her  who  disputed 
with  thee  concerning  her  husband,  and  made  her  complaint 
unto  GOD  ;  and  GOD  hath  heard  your  mutual  discourse  :  for 
87 


418  AL  KORAN. 

GOD  both  heareth  and  seeth.  As  to  those  among  you  who 
divorce  their  wives,  by  declaring  that  they  will  thereafter 
regard  them  as  their  mothers  ;  let  them  know  that  they  ore 
not  their  mothers.  They  only  are  their  mothers  who  brought 
them  forth  ;  and  they  certainly  utter  an  unjustifiable  saying 
and  a  falsehood :  but  GOD  is  gracious  and  ready  to  forgive. 
Those  who  divorce  their  wives  by  declaring  that  they  will 
for  the  future  regard  them  as  their  mothers,  and  afterwaids 
would  repair  what  they  have  said,  shatt  be  obliged  to  free  a 
captive  before  they  touch  one  another.  That  is  what  ye  are 
warned  to  perform :  and  GOD  is  well  apprised  of  that  which 
ye  do.  And  whoso  findeth  not  a  captive  to  redeem,  shatt  ob- 
serve a  fast  of  two  consecutive  months,  before  they  touch  one 
another.  And  whoso  shall  not  be  able  to  fast  that  time,  shall 
feed  threescore  poor  men.  This  is  ordained  you,  that  ye  may 
believe  in  GOD  and  his  apostle.  These  are  the  statutes  of 
GOD  :  and  for  the  unbelievers  is  prepared  a  grievous  tor- 
ment. Verily  they  who  oppose  GOD  and  his  apostle  shall 
be  brought  low,  as  the  unbelievers  who  preceded  them  were 
brought  low.  And  now  have  we  sent  down  manifest  s>gns : 
and  an  ignominious  punishment  awaiteth  the  unbelievers. 
On  a  certain  day  GOD  shall  raise  them  all  to  life,  and  shall 
declare  unto  them  that  which  they  have  wrought.  GOD 
hath  taken  an  exact  account  thereof;  but  they  have  forgotten 
the  same :  and  GOD  is  witness  over  all  things.  Dost  thou 
not  perceive  that  GOD  knoweth  whatever  is  in  heaven  and 
in  earth  ?  There  is  no  private  discourse  among  three  per- 
sons, but  he  is  the  fourth  of  them  ;  nor  among  five,  but  he  M 
the  sixth  of  them  ;  neither  among  a  smaller  number  than 
this,  nor  a  larger,  but  he  is  with  them,  wheresoever  they  be : 
and  he  will  declare  unto  them  that  which  they  have  done,  on 
the  day  of  resurrection  ;  for  GOD  knoweth  all  things.  Hast 
thou  not  observed  those  who  have  been  forbidden  to  use 
clandestine  discourse,  but  afterwards  return  to  what  they 
have  been  forbidden,  and  discourse  privily  among  themselves 
of  wickedness,  and  enmity,  and  disobedience  towards  the 
apostle  ?  And  when  they  come  unto  thee,  they  salute  thee 
with  that  form  of  salutation  wherewith  GOD  doth  not  salute 
thee  ;  and  they  say  among  themselves,  by  way  of  derision, 
Would  not  GOD  punish  us  for  what  we  say,  if  this  man  wert 
a  prophet  ?  Hell  shall  be  their  sufficient  punishment :  they 
•hall  go  down  into  the  same  to  be  burned  ;  and  an  unhappy 


AL  KORAN.  419 

journey  shatt  it  be!     0  true  believers,  when  ye  discourse 
privily  together,  discourse  not  of  wickedness,  and  enmity, 
*nd  disobedience  towards  the  apostle ;  but  discourse  of  jus- 
lice  and  piety:    and  fear   GOD,  before  whom  ye  shall  be 
assembled.     Verily  the  clandestine  discourse  of  the  infidelt 
proceedeth  from  Satan,  that  he  may  grieve  the  true  believ- 
ers :  but  there  shall  be  none  to  hurt  them  in  the  least,  unless 
by  the  permission  of  GOD  ;  wherefore  in  GOD  let  the  faith- 
ful trust.     0  true  believers,  when  it  is  said  unto  you,  Make 
room  in  the  assembly ;    make  room  :    GOD  will  grant  you 
ample  room  in  paradise.     And  when  it  is  said  unto  you, 
Rise  up ;  rise  up :  GOD  will  raise  those  of  you  who  believe, 
and  those  to  whom  knowledge  is  given,  to  superior  degrees 
of  honor  ;  and  GOD  is  fully  apprised  of  that  which  ye  do. 
0  true  believers,  when  ye  go  to  speak  with  the  apostle,  give 
alms  previously  to  your  discoursing  with  him;  this  witt  be 
better  for  you,  and  more  pure.     But  if  ye  find  not  what  to 
give,  verily  GOD  will  be  gracious  and  merciful  unto  you. 
Do  ye  fear  to  give  alms  previously  to  your  discoursing  with 
the  prophet,  lest  ye  should  impoverish  yourselves  ?     Therefore 
if  ye  do  it  not,  and  GOD  is  gracious  unto  you,  by  dispensing 
with  the  said  precept  for  the  future,  be  constant  at  prayer, 
and  pay  the  legal  alms ;  and  obey  GOD  and  his  apostle  in 
all  other  matters :  for  GOD  well  knoweth  that  which  ye  do. 
Hast   thou   not  observed   those  who  have  taken  for  their 
friends  a  people  against  whom  GOD  is  incensed  ?     They  are 
neither  of  you,  nor  of  them :  and  they  swear  to  a  lie  know- 
ingly.   GOD  hath  prepared  for  them  a  grievous  punishment ; 
for  it  is  evil  which  they  do.     They  have  taken  their  oaths 
for  a  cloak,  and  they  have  turned  men  aside  from  the  way 
of  GOD  :  wherefore  a  shameful  punishment  awaiteth  them ; 
neither  their  wealth  nor  their  children  shall  avail  them  at 
all  against  GOD.     These  shall  be  the  inhabitants  of  hett  fire  ; 
they  shall  abide  therein  forever.     On  a  certain  day  GOD 
shall  raise  them  all :  then  will  they  swear  unto  him,  as  they 
swear  now  unto  you,  imagining  that  it  will  be  of  service  to 
them.     Are  they  not  liars  ?     Satan  hath  prevailed  against 
them,  and  hath  caused  them  to  forget  the  remembrance  of 
GOD.     These  are  the  party  of  the  devil ;  and  shall  not  the 
party  of  the  devil  be  doomed  to  perdition  ?    Verily  they  who 
oppose  GOD  and  his  apostle  shatt  be  placed  among  the  moat 
vile.     GOD  hath  written,  Verily  I  will  prevail,  and  my  apos- 


420  AL  KORAN. 

ties  :  for  GOD  is  strong  and  mighty.  Thou  shalt  not  find 
people  who  believe  in  GOD  and  the  last  day  to  love  him  who 
opposeth  GOD  and  his  apostle ;  although  they  be  their 
fathers,  or  their  sons,  or  their  brethren,  or  their  nearest 
relations.  In  the  hearts  of  these  hath  GOD  written  faith 
and  he  hath  strengthened  them  with  his  spirit :  and  he  will 
lead  them  into  gardens,  beneath  which  rivers  flow,  to  remain 
therein  forever.  GOD  is  well  pleased  in  them ;  and  they  are 
well  pleased  in  him.  These  are  the  party  of  GOD  :  and 
shall  not  the  party  of  GOD  prosper  ? 


CHAPTER  LIX. 

IKTITLED,   THE    EMIGRATION;    REVEALED    AT   MEDINA. 
IN    THE    NAME    Of    THB    HOST    MEKCIFUL   GOD. 

WHATEVER  is  in  heaven  and  earth  celebrateth  the  praise 
of  GOD  :  and  he  is  the  mighty,  the  wise.  It  was  he  who 
caused  those  who  believed  not,  of  the  people  who  receive  the 
scripture,  to  depart  from  their  habitations  at  the  first  emigra- 
tion. Ye  did  not  think  that  they  would  go  forth  :  and  they 
thought  that  their  fortresses  would  protect  them  against  GOD. 
But  the  chastisement  of  GOD  came  upon  them,  from  whence 
they  did  not  expect;  and  he  cast  terror  into  their  hearts. 
They  pulled  down  their  houses  with  their  own  hands,  and 
the  hands  of  the  true  believers.  Wherefore  take  example 
from  them,  O  ye  who  have  eyes.  And  if  GOD  had  not 
doomed  them  to  banishment,  he  had  surely  punished  them  in 
this  world :  and  in  the  world  to  come  they  shall  suffer  th« 
torment  of  hett  fire.  This,  because  they  opposed  GOD  and 
his  apostle :  and  whoso  opposeth  GOD,  verily  GOD  witt  be 
severe  in  punishing  him.  What  palm-trees  ye  cut  down,  or 
left  standing  on  their  roots,  were  so  cut  down  or  left  by  the  will 
of  GOD  ;  and  that  he  might  disgrace  the  wicked  doers.  And 
at  to  the  spoils  of  these  people  which  GOD  hath  granted 
wholly  to  his  apostle,  ye  did  not  push  forward  any  horses  or 
camels  against  the  same ;  but  GOD  giveth  unui  bis  Apostle* 


AL   KORAN.  421 

dominion  over  whom  he  pleaseth :  for  GOD  it  almighty.  Tht 
spoils  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  towns  which  GOD  hath 
granted  to  his  apostle  are  due  unto  GOD  and  to  the  apostle, 
and  to  him  who  is  of  kin  to  the  apostle,  and  the  orphans,  and 
the  poor,  and  the  traveller  ;  that  they  may  not  be  forever  di- 
vided in  a  circle  among  such  of  you  as  are  rich.  What  the 
apostle  shall  give  you,  that  accept ;  and  what  he  shall  forbid 
you,  that  abstain  from :  and  fear  GOD  ;  for  GOD  is  severe 
in  chastising.  A  part  also  behngeth  to  the  poor  Mohajerin, 
who  have  been  dispossessed  of  their  houses  and  their  sub- 
stance, seeking  favor  from  GOD,  and  his  good-will,  and  assist- 
ing GOD  and  his  apostle.  These  are  the  men  of  veracity. 
And  they  who  quietly  possessed  the  town  of  Medina,  and 
professed  the  faith  without  molestation,  before  them,  love 
him  who  hath  fled  unto  them,  and  find  in  their  breasts  no 
want  of  that  which  is  given  the  Mohajerin,  but  prefer  them 
before  themselves,  although  there  be  indigence  among  them. 
And  whoso  is  preserved  from  the  covetousness  of  his  own 
soul,  those  shall  surely  prosper.  And  they  who  have  come 
after  them  say,  O  LORD,  forgive  us  and  our  brethren  who 
have  preceded  us  in  the  faith,  and  put  not  into  our  hearts 
ill-will  against  those  who  have  believed  :  0  LORD,  verily 
thou  art  compassionate  and  merciful.  Hast  thou  not  ob- 
served them  who  play  the  hypocrites  ?  They  say  unto  their 
brethren  who  believe  not,  of  those  who  have  received  the 
scriptures,  Verily  if  ye  be  expelled  your  habitations,  we  will 
surely  go  forth  with  you  ;  and  we  will  not  pay  obedience,  in 
your  respect,  unto  any  one  forever :  and  if  ye  be  attacked, 
we  will  certainly  assist  you.  But  GOD  is  witness  that  they 
are  liars.  Verily  if  they  be  expelled,  they  will  not  go  forth 
with  them  :  and  if  they  be  attacked,  they  will  not  assist 
them  :  and  if  they  do  assist  them,  they  will  surely  turn  their 
backs  :  and  they  shall  not  be  protected.  Verily  ye  are 
stronger  than  they,  by  reason  of  the  terror  cast  into  their 
breasts  from  GOD.  This,  because  they  are  not  people  of 
prudence.  They  will  not  fight  against  you  in  a  body,  ex- 
cept in  fenced  towns,  or  from  behind  walls.  Their  strength 
in  war  among  themselves  is  great :  thou  thinkest  them  to  b* 
united  ;  but  their  hearts  are  divided.  This,  because  they  art 
people  who  do  not  understand.  Like  those  who  lately  pre- 
ceded them,  they  have  tasted  the  evil  consequence  of  their 
deed  ;  and  a  painful  torment  is  prepared  for  them  hereafter. 


422  AL  KORAN. 

Thus  have  the  hypocrites  deceived  the  Jews :  like  the  devil, 
when  he  saith  unto  a  man,  Be  them  an  infidel ;  and  when  he 
is  become  an  infidel,  he  saith,  Verily  I  am  clear  of  thee ;  for 
I  fear  GOD,  the  LORD  of  all  creatures.  Wherefore  the  end 
of  them  both  shall  be  that  they  shall  dwell  in  hell  fire,  abid- 
ing therein  forever :  and  this  shall  be  the  recompense  of  the 
unjust.  O  true  believers,  fear  GOD  ;  and  let  a  soul  look 
what  it  sendeth  before  for  the  morrow :  and  fear  SOD,  for 
GOD  is  well  acquainted  with  that  which  ye  do.  And  be  not 
as  those  who  have  forgotten  GOD,  and  whom  he  hath  caused 
to  forget  their  own  souls  :  these  are  the  wicked  doers.  The 
inhabitants  of  hell  fire  and  the  inhabitants  of  paradise  shall 
not  be  held  equal.  The  inhabitants  of  paradise  are  they 
who  shall  enjoy  felicity.  If  we  had  sent  down  this  Koran  on 
a  mountain,  thou  wouldest  certainly  have  seen  the  same  hum- 
ble itself,  and  cleave  in  sunder  for  fear  of  GOD.  These 
similitudes  do  we  propose  unto  men,  that  they  may  consider. 
He  is  GOD,  besides  whom  there  is  no  GOD  ;  who  knoweth 
that  which  is  future,  and  that  which  is  present:  he  is  the 
most  Merciful ;  he  is  GOD,  besides  whom  there  is  no  GOD  : 
the  King,  the  Holy,  the  Giver  of  peace,  the  Faithful,  the 
Guardian,  the  Powerful,  the  Strong,  the  most  High.  Far 
be  GOD  exalted  above  the  idols  which  they  associate  with 
him!  He  is  GOD,  the  Creator,  the  Maker,  the  Former. 
He  hath  most  excellent  names.  Whatever  is  in  heaven  and 
in  earth  praiseth  him :  and  he  it  the  Mighty,  the  Wise. 


CHAPTER  LX. 

1HTITLED,    SHE    WHO    18    TRIED  ;    REVEALED    AT   MEDINA. 

IN    THE    NAME    OF    THE    MOST    MEBCIFUL   GOD. 

0  TRUE  believers,  take  not  my  enemy  and  your  enemy  foi 
your  friends,  showing  kindness  towards  them ;  since  they 
believe  not  in  the  truth  which  hath  come  unto  you,  having 
expelled  the  apostle  and  yourselves  from  your  native  city 
because  ye  believe  in  GOD,  your  LORD.  If  ye  go  forth  to 


AL  KORAN.  428 

fight  in  defence  of  my  religion,  and  out  of  a  desire  to  pleas* 
me,  and  privately  show  friendship  unto  them ;  verily  I  well 
know  that  which  ye  conceal,  and  that  which  ye  discover: 
and  whoever  of  you  doth  this,  hath  already  erred  from  the 
straight  path.     If  they  get  the  better  of  you,  they  will  be 
enemies  unto  you,  and  they  will  stretch  forth  their  hands  and 
their  tongues  against  you  with  evil :  and  they  earnestly  de- 
sire that  ye  should  become  unbelievers.     Neither  your  kin- 
dred nor  your  children  will  avail  you  at  all  on  the  day  of 
resurrection,  which  will  separate  you  from  one  another :  and 
GOD  seeth  that  which  ye  do.     Ye  have  an  excellent  pattern 
in  Abraham,  and  those  who  were  with  him,  when  they  said 
unto  their  people,  Verily  we  are  clear  of  you,  and  of  the  idols 
which  ye  worship,  besides  GOD  :  we  have  renounced  you  ; 
and  enmity  and  hatred  is  begun  between  us  and  you  forever, 
until  ye  believe  in  GOD   alone :  except  Abraham's  saying 
unto  his  father,  Verily  I  will  beg  pardon  for  thee :  but  I  can- 
not obtain  aught  of  GOD  in  thy  behalf.     O  LORD,  in  thee 
do  we  trust,  and  unto  thee  are  we  turned ;  and  before  thee 
shall  we  be  assembled  hereafter.     O  LORD,  suffer  us  not  to 
be  put  to  trial  by  the  unbelievers :  and  forgive  us,  O  LORD  ; 
for  thou  art  mighty  and  wise.     Verily  ye  have  in  them  an 
excellent  example,  unto  him  who  hopeth  in  GOD  and  the  last 
day :  and  whoso  turneth  back ;  verily  GOD  i$  self-sufficient, 
and  praiseworthy.     Peradventure  GOD  will  establish  friend- 
ship between  yourselves  and  such  of  them  as  ye  now  hold 
for  enemies :  for  GOD  is  powerful ;  and  GOD  is  inclined  to 
forgive,  and  merciful.     As  to  those  who  have  not  borne  arms 
against  you  on  account  of  religion,  nor  turned  you  out  of 
your  dwellings,  GOD  forbiddeth  you  not  to  deal  kindly  with 
them,  and  to  behave  justly  towards  them :  for  GOD  loveth 
those  who  act  justly.     But  as  to  those  who  have  borne  arms 
against  you  on  account  of  religion,  and  have  dispossessed  you 
of  your  habitations,  and  have  assisted  in  dispossessing  you, 
GOD  forbiddeth  you  to  enter  into  friendship  with  them  :  and 
whosoever  of  you  entereth  into  friendship  with  them,  those 
are  unjust  doers.     O  true  believers,  when  believing  women 
come  unto  you  as  refugees,  try  them :    GOD  well  knoweth 
their  faith.     And  if  ye  know  them  to  be  true  believers,  send 
them  not  back  to  the  infidels :  they  are  not  lawful  for  the  un- 
believers to  have  in  marriage ;   neither  are  tfie  unbeliever! 
lawful  for  them.     But  give  their  unbelieving  husbands  what 


424  AL  KORAN. 

Ihey  shall  have  expended  for  their  dowers.  Nor  thall  it  bt 
any  crime  in  you  if  ye  marry  them,  provided  ye  give  them 
their  dowries.  And  retain  not  the  patronage  of  the  unbeliev- 
ing women :  but  demand  back  that  which  ye  have  expended 
for  the  dowry  of  such  of  your  wives  as  go  over  to  the  unbe- 
lievers ;  and  let  them  demand  back  that  which  they  have 
expended  for  the  dowry  of  those  who  come  over  to  you.  Thit 
is  the  judgment  of  GOD,  which  he  established!  among  you 
and  GOD  is  knowing  and  wise.  If  any  of  your  wives  escape 
from  you  to  the  unbelievers,  and  ye  have  your  turn  by  tht 
coming  over  of  any  of  the  unbelievers'  wives  to  you  ;  give 
unto  those  believers  whose  wives  shall  have  gone  away^  out 
of  the  dowries  of  the  latter,  so  much  as  they  shall  have  ex- 
pended for  the  dowers  tf  the  former :  and  fear  GOD,  in  whom 
ye  believe.  0  prophet,  when  believing  women  come  unto 
thee,  and  plight  their  faith  unto  thee,  that  they  will  not  asso- 
ciate anything  with  GOD,  nor  steal,  nor  commit  fornication, 
nor  kill  their  children,  nor  come  with  a  calumny  which  they 
have  forged  between  their  hands  and  their  feet,  nor  be  dis- 
obedient to  thee  in  that  which  shall  be  reasonable :  then  do 
thou  plight  thy  faith  unto  them,  and  ask  pardon  for  them  of 
GOD  ;  for  GOD  it  inclined  to  forgive,  and  merciful.  O  true 
believers,  enter  not  into  friendship  with  a  people  against 
whom  GOD  is  incensed ;  they  despair  of  the  life  to  come, 
as  the  infidels  despair  of  the  resurrection  of  those  who  dwell 
in  the  graves. 


CHAPTER  LXL 

ZNTITLED,    BATTLE-ARRAY;    REVEALED    AT    MECCA, 
IN   THE    -KMM.lt   OF   THE    MOST    MEKCIFDL   GOD. 

WHATEVER  is  in  heaven  and  in  earth  celebrateth  tha 
praise  of  GOD  ;  for  he  is  mighty  and  wise.  O  true  be- 
lievers, why  do  ye  say  that  which  ye  do  not?  It  is  most 
odious  in  the  sight  of  GOD,  that  ye  say  that  which  ye  do  not. 
Verily  GOD  loveth  those  who  fight  for  his  religion  in  battle- 
array,  as  though  they  were  a  well-compacted  building.  R* 


AL  KORAN.  425 

member  when  Moses  said  unto  his  people,  0  my  people,  why 
do  ye  injure  me ;  since  ye  know  that  I  am  the  apostle  of 
GOD  tent  unto  you  ?  And  when  they  had  deviated  from  th* 
truth,  GOD  made  their  hearts  to  deviate  from  the  right  way  ; 
for  GOD  directeth  not  wicked  people.  And  when  Jesus  the 
Son  of  Mary  said,  O  children  of  Israel,  verily  I  am  the  apos- 
tle of  GOD  sent  unto  you,  confirming  the  law  which  was  de- 
livered before  me,  and  bringing  good  tidings  of  an  apostle 
who  shall  come  after  me,  and  whose  name  shall  be  Ahmed. 
And  when  he  produced  unto  them  evident  miracles,  they 
gaid,  This  is  manifest  sorcery.  But  who  is  more  unjust  than 
he  who  forgeth  a  lie  against  GOD,  when  he  is  invited  unto 
Islam?  And  GOD  directeth  not  the  unjust  people.  They 
seek  to  extinguish  GOD'S  light  with  their  mouths :  but  GOD 
will  perfect  his  light,  though  the  infidels  be  averse  thereto. 
It  is  he  who  hath  sent  his  apostle  with  the  direction,  and  the 
religion  of  truth,  that  he  may  exalt  the  same  above  every 
religion,  although  the  idolaters  be  averse  thereto.  0  true  be- 
lievers, shall  I  show  you  a  merchandise  which  will  deliver 
you  from  a  painful  torment  hereafter  ?  Believe  in  GOD  and 
his  apostle ;  and  defend  GOD'S  true  religion  with  your  sub- 
stance, and  in  your  own  persons.  This  will  be  better  for  you, 
if  ye  knew  it.  He  will  forgive  you  your  sins,  and  will  in- 
troduce you  into  gardens  through  which  rivers  flow,  and 
agreeable  habitations  in  gardens  of  perpetual  abode.  This 
will  be  great  felicity.  And  ye  shall  obtain  other  things  which 
ye  desire,  namely,  assistance  from  GOD,  and  a  speedy  victory. 
And  do  thou  bear  good  tidings  to  the  true  believers.  0  true 
believers,  be  ye  the  assistants  of  GOD  ;  as  Jesus  the  son  of 
Mary  said  to  the  apostles,  Who  will  be  my  assistants  with 
respect  to  GOD  ?  The  apostles  answered,  We  will  1*  the 
assistants  of  GOD.  So  a  part  of  the  children  of  Israel  be- 
lieved, and  a  part  believed  not :  but  we  strengthened  tho«e 
who  believed,  above  their  enemy  wherefore  they  became 
victorious  over  them. 


426  AL  KORAN. 

CHAPTER  LXH 

nrriTLED,  THE  ASSEMBLY;  REVEALED  AT  MEDINA, 

IH    THE   NAMB    OF    THE   MOST    MERCIFUL   GOD. 

WHATEVER  it  in  heaven  and  earth  praiseth  GOD  ;  tha 
King,  the  Holy,  the  Mighty,  the  Wise.  It  is  he  who  hath 
raised  up  amidst  the  illiterate  Arabians  an  apostle  from 
among  themselves,  to  rehearse  his  signs  unto  them,  and  to 
purify  them,  and  to  teach  them  the  scriptures  and  wisdom ; 
whereas  before  they  were  certainly  in  a  manifest  error ;  aud 
others  of  them  have  not  yet  attained  unto  them,  by  embracing 
the  faith  ;  though  they  also  shall  be  converted  in  God's  good 
time  ;  for  he  is  mighty  and  wise.  This  is  the  free  grace  of 
GOD  :  he  bestoweth  the  same  on  whom  he  pleaseth :  and 
GOD  is  endued  with  great  beneficence.  The  likeness  of 
those  who  were  charged  with  the  observance  of  the  law,  and 
then  observed  it  not,  is  as  the  likeness  of  an  ass  laden  with 
books.  How  wretched  is  the  likeness  of  the  people  who 
charge  the  signs  of  GOD  with  falsehood !  and  GOD  directeth 
not  the  unjust  people.  Say,  0  ye  who  follow  the  Jewish 
religion,  if  ye  say  that  ye  are  the  friends  of  GOD  above 
other  men,  wish  for  death,  if  ye  speak  truth.  But  they  will 
never  wish  for  it,  because  of  that  which  their  hands  have 
sent  before  them :  and  GOD  well  knoweth  the  unjust.  Say, 
Verily  death,  from  which  ye  fly,  will  surely  meet  you .  then 
shall  ye  be  brought  before  him  who  knoweth  as  well  what  is 
concealed  as  what  is  discovered ;  and  he  will  declare  unto 
you  that  which  ye  have  done.  O  true  believers,  when  ye 
are  called  to  prayer  on  the  day  of  the  assembly,  hasten 
to  the  commemoration  of  GOD  and  leave  merchandising.1 
This  will  be  better  for  you,  if  you  knew  it.  And  when 
prayer  is  ended,  then  disperse  yourselves  through  the  land 
as  ye  list,  and  seek  gain  of  the  liberality  of  GOD  :  and  re- 
member GOD  frequently,  that  ye  may  prosper.2  But  when 
they  see  any  merchandising,  or  sport,  they  flock  thereto,  and 
leave  thee  standing  up  in  the  pulpit.  Say,  The  reward 
which  is  with  GOD  is  better  than  any  sport  or  merchan- 
dise :  and  GOD  is  the  best  provider. 


AL  KORAN.  427 

CHAPTER   LXm. 

WTITLED,  THE    HYPOCRITES  ;    REVKALED    AT   MEDINA. 
IV   THB    NAME    OF    THE   MOST   MEHCIFUL   GOD. 

WHEN  the  hypocrites  come  unto  thee,  they  say,  We  bear 
witness  that  thou  art  indeed  the  apostle  of  GOD.  And  GOD 
knoweth  that  thou  art  indeed  his  apostle :  but  GOD  beareth 
witness  that  the  hypocrites  are  certainly  liars.  They  have 
taken  their  oaths  for  a  protection,  and  they  turn  others  aside 
from  the  way  of  GOD  :  it  is  surely  evil  which  they  do.  Thia 
is  testified  of  them,  because  they  believed,  and  afterwards  be- 
came unbelievers :  wherefore  a  seal  is  set  on  their  hearts, 
and  they  shall  not  understand.  When  thou  beholdest  them, 
their  persons  please  thee :  and  if  they  speak,  thou  hearest 
their  discourse  with  delight.  They  resemble  pieces  of  timber 
set  up  against  a  wall.  They  imagine  every  shout  to  be 
against  them.  They  are  enemies :  wherefore  beware  of 
them.  GOD  curse  them :  how  are  they  turned  aside  from 
the  truth  !  And  when  it  is  said  unto  them,  Come,  that  the 
apostle  of  GOD  may  ask  pardon  for  you ;  they  turn  away 
their  heads,  and  thou  seest  them  retire  big  with  disdain.  It 
shall  be  equal  unto  them,  whether  thou  ask  pardon  for  them,  or 
do  not  ask  pardon  for  them :  GOD  will  by  no  means  forgive 
them  ;  for  GOD  directeth  not  the  prevaricating  people.  These 
are  the  men  who  say  to  the  inhabitants  of  Medina,  Do  not  be- 
stow anything  on  the  refugees  who  are  with  the  apostle  of 
GOD,  that  they  may  be  obliged  to  separate  from  him.  Where- 
as unto  GOD  belong  the  stores  of  heaven  and  earth :  but  the 
hypocrites  do  not  understand.  They  say,  Verily,  if  we  return 
to  Medina,  the  worthier  shall  expel  thence  the  meaner 
Whereas  superior  worth  belongeth  unto  GOD  and  his  apostle, 
and  the  true  believers :  but  the  hypocrites  know  it  noL  0 
true  believers,  let  not  your  riches  or  your  children  divert  you 
from  the  remembrance  of  GOD  :  for  whosoever  doth  this,  they 
will  surely  be  losers.  And  give  alms  out  of  that  which  w« 
have  bestowed  on  you  ;  before  death  come  unto  one  of  you, 
and  he  say,  0  LORD,  wilt  thou  not  grant  me  respite  for  a 
»hort  term:  that  I  may  give  alms,  and  become  one  of  the 


428  AL  KORAN. 

righteous?     For  GOD  will  by  no  means  grant  further  D 

to  a  soul,  waen  its  determined  time  is  come :  and  GOD  is  fully 

apprised  of  that  which  ye  do. 


CHAPTER  LXIV 

IKTITLKD,   MUTUAL    DECEIT  ;    REVEALED    AT    MECCA. 
IN    THE    NAME    OF    THE    MOST   MERCIFUL    GOD. 

WHATEVER  it  in  heaven  and  earth  celebrateth  the  praises 
of  GOD  :  his  is  the  kingdom,  and  unto  him  is  the  praise  due  ; 
for  he  is  almighty.  It  is  he  who  hath  created  you  ;  and  one 
of  you  is  predestined  to  be  an  unbeliever,  and  another  of  you 
is  predestined  to  be  a  believer  :  and  GOD  beholdeth  that  which 
ye  do.  He  hath  created  the  heavens  and  the  earth  with 
truth ;  and  he  hath  fashioned  you,  and  given  you  beautiful 
forms :  and  unto  him  must  ye  all  go.  He  knoweth  whatever 
it  in  heaven  and  earth  :  and  he  knoweth  that  which  ye  con- 
ceal, and  that  which  ye  discover ;  for  GOD  knoweth  the  in- 
nermost part  of  men's  breasts.  Have  ye  not  been  acquainted 
with  the  story  of  those  who  disbelieved  heretofore,  and  tasted 
the  evil  consequence  of  their  behavior  ?  And  for  them  is 
prepared  in  the  life  to  come  a  tormenting  punishment.  This 
thatt  they  suffer,  because  their  apostles  came  unto  them  with 
evident  proofs  of  their  mission,  and  they  said,  Shall  men 
direct  us?  Wherefore  they  believed  not,  and  turned  their 
backs.  But  GOD  standeth  in  need  of  no  person :  for  GOD 
i*  self-sufficient,  and  worthy  to  be  praised.  The  unbelievers 
imagine  that  they  shall  not  be  raised  again.  Say,  Yea,  by 
my  LORD,  ye  shall  surely  be  raised  again  ;  then  shall  ye  be 
told  that  which  ye  have  wrought ;  and  this  is  easy  with  GOD. 
Wherefore  believe  in  GOD  and  his  apostle,  and  the  light 
which  we  have  sent  down  :  for  GOD  is  well  acquainted  with 
that  which  ye  do.  On  a  certain  day  he  shall  assemble  you. 
at  the  day  of  the  general  assembly :  that  will  be  the  day  ot 
mutual  deceit.  And  whoso  shall  believe  in  GOD,  and  shall 
&>  that  which  is  right,  from  him  will  he  expiate  hi.-  evil  deeda, 


AL  KORAN.  429 

and  he  will  lead  him  into  gardens  beneath  which  rivers  flow, 
to  remain  therein  forever.  This  will  be  great  felicity.  Bat 
they  who  shall  not  believe,  and  shall  accuse  our  signs  of 
falsehood,  those  shatt  be  the  inhabitants  of  hell  fire,  wherein 
they  shall  remain  forever  ;  and  a  wretched  journey  shatt  it  be 
thither!  No  misfortune  happeneth  but  by  the  permission  of 
GOD  ;  and  whoso  believeth  in  GOD,  he  will  direct  his  heart  : 
and  Gor  knoweth  all  things.  Wherefore  obey  GOD,  and 
obey  the  apostle :  but  if  ye  turn  back,  verily  the  duty  incum- 
bent on  our  apostle  is  only  public  preaching.  GOD  !  there  is 
no  GOD  but  he:  wherefore  in  GOD  let  the  faithful  put  their 
trust.  0  true  believers,  verily  of  your  wives  and  your 
children,  ye  have  an  enemy :  wherefore  beware  of  them.  But 
if  ye  pass  over  their  offences,  and  pardon,  and  forgive  them  ; 
GOD  is  likewise  inclined  to  forgive,  and  merciful.  Your 
wealth  and  your  children  are  only  a  temptation  ;  but  with 
GOD  is  a  great  reward.  Wherefore  fear  GOD,  as  much  as 
ye  are  able ;  and  hear,  and  obey :  and  give  alms,  for  the 
good  of  your  souls  ;  for  whoso  is  preserved  from  the  cov- 
etousness  of  his  own  soul,  they  shall  prosper.  If  ye  lend 
unto  GOD  an  acceptable  loan,  he  will  double  the  same  unto 
you,  and  will  forgive  you  :  for  GOD  is  grateful,  and  long- 
suffering,  knowing  both  what  is  hidden,  and  what  is  divulged  : 
the  Mighty,  the  Wise. 


CHAPTER  LXV. 

IN-TITLED,   DIYOBCE  ;   REVEALED    AT    MEDQf  A. 
IX    THE    NAMB    OT   THK   MOST    M«RCIFUL   OOD. 

O  PROPHET,  when  ye  divorce  women,  put  them  away  at 
their  appointed  term  ;  and  compute  the  term  exactly :  and 
fear  GOD,  your  LORD.  Oblige  them  not  to  go  out  of  .their 
apartments,  neither  let  them  go  out,  until  the  term  be  expired, 
•nless  they  be  guilty  of  manifest  uncleanness.  These  art 
the  statutes  of  GOD  :  and  whoever  transgresseth  the  statutes 
of  GOD  assuredly  injureth  hi?  rvn  souL  Thou  knowest  not 


430  AL  KORAN. 

whether  GOD  will  bring  something  new  to  pass,  which  may 
reconcile  them  after  this.  And  when  they  shall  have  fulfilled 
their  term,  either  retain  them  with  kindness,  or  part  from 
them  honorably :  and  take  witnesses  from  among  you,  men 
of  integrity ;  and  give  your  testimony  as  in  the  presence  of 
GOD.  This  admonition  is  given  unto  him  who  believcth  in 
GOD  and  the  last  day :  and  whoso  feareth  GOD,  unto  him 
will  he  grant  a  happy  issue  out  of  all  his  afflictions,  and  he 
will  bestow  on  him  an  ample  provision  from  whence  he  ex- 
pecteth  it  not :  and  whoso  trusteth  in  GOD,  he  witt  be  his 
sufficient  support ;  for  GOD  will  surely  attain  his  purpose. 
Now  hath  GOD  appointed  unto  everything  a  determined 
period.  As  to  such  of  your  wives  as  shall  despair  having 
their  courses,  by  reason  of  their  age  ;  if  ye  be  in  doubt  there- 
of, let  their  term  be  three  months :  and  let  the  same  be  the 
term  of  those  who  have  not  yet  had  their  courses.  But  at 
to  those  who  are  pregnant,  their  term  shall  be,  until  they  be 
delivered  of  their  burden.  And  whoso  feareth  GOD,  unto  him 
will  he  make  his  command  easy.  This  is  the  command  of 
GOD,  which  he  hath  sent  down  unto  you.  And  whoso  feareth 
GOD,  he  will  expiate  his  evil  deeds  from  him,  and  will  ir 
crease  his  reward.  Suffer  the  women  whom  ye  divorce  to 
dwell  in  some  part  of  the  houses  wherein  ye  dwell ;  according 
to  the  room  and  conveniences  of  the  habitations  which  ye  pos- 
sess :  and  make  them  not  uneasy,  that  ye  may  reduce  them 
to  straits.  And  if  they  be  with  child,  expend  on  them  what 
shall  be  needful,  until  they  be  delivered  of  their  burden. 
And  if  they  suckle  their  children  for  you,  give  them  their 
hire  ;  and  consult  among  yourselves,  according  to  what  shall 
be  just  and  reasonable.  And  if  ye  be  put  to  a  difficulty  here- 
in, and  another  woman  shall  suckle  the  child  for  him,  let  him 
who  hath  plenty  expend  proportionably  in  the  maintenance 
of  the  mother  find  the  nurse,  out  of  his  plenty :  and  let  him 
whose  income  is  scanty  expend  in  proportion  out  of  that 
which  GOD  hath  given  him.  GOD  obligeth  no  man  to  more 
than  he  hath  given  him  ability  to  perform :  GOD  will  cause 
ease  to  succeed  hardship.  How  many  cities  have  turned  aside 
from  the  command  of  the  LORD  and  his  apostles !  Where- 
fore we  brought  them  to  a  severe  account ;  and  we  chastised 
them  with  a  grievous  chastisement :  and  they  tasted  the  evil 
consequence  of  their  business  ;  and  the  end  of  their  business 
was  perdition.  GOD  hath  prepared  for  them  a  severe  pun- 


AL  KORAN.  431 

ishraent :  wherefore  fear  GOD,  O  ye  who  are  endued  with 
understanding.  True  believers,  now  hath  GOD  sent  down 
onto  you  an  admonition,  an  apostle  who  may  rehearse  unto 
you  the  perspicuous  signs  of  GOD  ;  that  he  may  bring  forth 
those  who  believe  and  do  good  works,  from  darkness  into 
light  And  whoso  believeth  in  GOD,  and  doth  that  which  is 
right,  him  will  he  lead  into  gardens  beneath  which  rivers  flow, 
to  remain  therein  forever :  now  hath  GOD  made  an  excellent 
provision  for  him.  It  is  GOD  who  hath  created  seven  heav- 
3D8,  and  as  many  different  stories  of  the  earth :  the  divine 
command  descendeth  between  them  ;  that  ye  may  know  that 
GOD  is  omnipotent,  and  that  GOD  comprehendeth  all  things 
by  hit  knowledge. 


CHAPTER  LXVI. 

nrriTLED,  PROHIBITION  ;  REVEALED  AT  HEDDTA. 

IV    THE   NAME    OF    THK    MOST   MERCIFUL   OOD. 

0  PROPHET,  why  boldest  thou  that  to  be  prohibited  which 
GOD  hath  allowed  thee,  seeking  to  please  thy  wives ;  since 
GOD  is  inclined  to  forgive,  and  merciful  ?  GOD  hath  al- 
lowed you  the  dissolution  of  your  oaths :  and  GOD  is  your 
master ;  and  he  is  knowing  and  wise.  When  the  prophet 
intrusted  as  a  secret  unto  one  of  his  wives  a  certain  accident ; 
and  when  she  disclosed  the  same,  and  GOD  made  it  known 
unto  him  ;  he  acquainted  her  with  part  of  what  she  had  done, 
and  forbore  to  upbraid  her  with  the  other  part  thereof.  And 
when  he  had  acquainted  her  therewith,  she  said,  Who  hath 
discovered  this  unto  thee  ?  He  answered,  The  knowing,  the 
sagacious  God  hath  discovered  it  unto  me.  If  ye  both  be 
turned  unto  GOD  (for  your  hearts  have  swerved)  it  it  weU: 
but  if  ye  join  against  him,  verily  GOD  is  his  patron  ;  and 
Gabriel,  and  the  good  man  among  the  faithful,  and  the  angels 
also  are  his  assistants.  If  he  divorce  you,  his  LORD  can 
sasily  give  him  in  exchange  other  wives  better  than  you, 
women  resigned  unto  God,  true  believers,  devout,  penitent, 


432  AL  KORAN. 

obedient,  given  to  fasting,  both  such  as  have  been  known  by 
other  men,  and  virgins.  0  true  believers,  save  your  souls, 
and  those  of  your  families,  from  the  fire  whose  fuel  is  men 
and  stones,  over  which  are  set  angels  fierce  and  terrible ;  who 
disobey  not  GOD  in  what  he  hath  commanded  them,  but  per 
form  what  they  are  commanded.  O  unbelievers,  excuse  not 
yourselves  this  day;  ye  shall  surely  be  rewarded  for  what 
ye  have  done.  O  true  believers,  turn  unto  GOD  with  a  sin- 
cere repentance  :  peradventure  your  LORD  will  do  away 
from  you  your  evil  deeds,  and  will  admit  you  into  gardens, 
through  which  rivers  flow ;  on  the  day  whereon  GOD  will 
not  put  to  shame  the  prophet,  or  those  who  believe  with  him  : 
their  light  shall  run  before  them,  and  on  their  right  hands, 
and  they  shall  say,  LORD,  make  our  light  perfect,  and  for- 
give us :  for  thou  art  almighty.  O  prophet,  attack  the  infi- 
dels with  arms,  and  the  hypocrites  with  arguments ;  and 
treat  them  with  severity :  their  abode  shall  be  hell,  and  an 
ill  journey  shall  it  be  thither.  GOD  propoundeth  as  a  simili- 
tude unto  the  unbelievers,  the  wife  of  Noah,  and  the  wife  of 
Lot :  they  were  under  two  of  our  righteous  servants,  and 
they  deceived  them  both :  wherefore  their  husbands  were  of 
no  advantage  unto  them  at  all,  in  the  sight  of  GOD  :  and  it 
shall  be  said  unto  them,  at  the  last  day,  Enter  ye  into  hett  fire, 
with  those  who  enter  therein.  GOD  also  propoundeth  as  a 
similitude  unto  those  who  believe,  the  wife  of  Pharaoh  ;  when 
she  said,  LORD,  build  me  a  house  with  thee  in  paradise ;  and 
deliver  me  from  Pharaoh  and  his  doings,  and  deliver  me 
from  the  unjust  people  :  and  Mary  the  daughter  of  Imran  ; 
who  preserved  her  chastity,  and  into  whose  womb  we  breathed 
of  our  spirit,  and  who  believed  in  the  words  of  her  LORD,  and 
bis  scriptures,  and  was  a  devout  and  obedient  person. 


AL  KO&AS.  433 

CHAPTER  LXVn. 

tNTITLKD,  THE    KINGDOM  ;     REVEALED    AT    MECCA. 
IK   THE    NXKK   Or    THB   MOST   MSKCIFUL   GOD. 

BLESSED  be  he  in  whose  hand  is  the  kingdom,  for  he  M 
almighty !  Who  hath  created  death  and  life,  that  Le  might 
prove  you,  which  of  you  is  most  righteous  in  his  actions : 
and  he  is  mighty,  and  ready  to  forgive.  Who  hath  created 
seven  heavens,  one  above  another :  thou  canst  not  see  in  a 
creature  of  the  most  Merciful  any  unfitness  or  disproportion. 
Lift  up  thine  eyes  again  to  heaven,  and  look  whether  thou 
seest  any  flaw :  then  take  two  other  views  ;  and  thy  sight 
shall  return  unto  thee  dull  and  fatigued.  Moreover  we  have 
adorned  the  lowest  heaven  with  lamps,  and  have  appointed 
them  to  be  darted  at  the  devils,  for  whom  we  have  prepared 
the  torment  of  burning  fire :  and  for  those  who  believe  not 
in  their  LORD  is  also  prepared  the  torment  of  hell ;  an  ill 
journey  shall  it  be  thither.  When  they  shall  be  thrown 
thereinto,  they  shall  hear  it  bray  like  an  ass ;  and  it  shall 
boil,  and  almost  burst  for  fury.  So  often  as  a  company  of 
them  shall  be  thrown  therein,  the  keepers  thereof  shall  ask 
them,  saying,  Did  not  a  warner  come  unto  you  ?  They  shall 
answer,  Yt- a,  a  warner  came  unto  us :  but  we  accused  him 
of  imposture,  and  said,  GOD  hath  not  revealed  anything ;  ye 
are  in  no  other  than  a  great  error :  and  they  shall  say,  If  we 
had  hearkened,  or  had  rightly  considered,  we  should  not  have 
been  among  the  inhabitants  of  burning  fire :  and  they  shall 
confess  their  sins ;  but  far  be  the  inhabitants  of  burning  fire 
from  obtaining  mercy !  Verily  they  who  fear  their  LORD 
In  secret  shall  receive  pardon  and  a  great  reward.  Either 
conceal  your  discourse,  or  make  it  public ;  he  knoweth  the 
innermost  parts  of  your  breasts  :  shall  not  he  know  att  thingi 
who  hath  created  them  ;  since  he  «  the  sagacious,  the  know- 
ing ?  It  is  he  who  hath  levelled  the  earth  for  you :  there- 
fore walk  through  the  regions  thereof,  and  eat  of  his  provis- 
ion ;  unto  him  shall  be  the  resurrection.  Are  ye  secure  that 
he  who  dwetteth  in  heaven  will  not  cause  the  earth  to  swallow 
-ou  up  ?  and  behold,  it  shall  shake.  Or  are  you  secure  thai 


484  AL  KORAN. 

he  who  dweUeth  in  heaven  will  not  send  against  you  an 
impetuous  whirlwind,  driving  the  sands  to  overwhelm  you  ? 
then  shall  ye  know  how  important  my  warning  was.  Those 
also  who  were  before  you  disbelieved  ;  and  how  grievous  was 
my  displeasure  !  Do  they  not  behold  the  birds  above  them, 
extending  and  drawing  back  their  wings  ?  None  sustain  eth 
them,  except  the  Merciful ;  for  he  regardeth  all  things.  Or 
who  is  he  that  witt  be  as  an  army  unto  you,  to  defend  you 
against  the  Merciful?  Verily  the  unbelievers  are  in  no 
other  than  a  mistake.  Or  who  is  he  that  will  give  you  food, 
if  he  withholdeth  his  provision  ?  yet  they  persist  in  perverse- 
ness,  and  flying  from  the  truth.  Is  he,  therefore,  who  goeth 
grovelling  upon  his  face,  better  directed  than  he  who  walk- 
eth  upright  in  a  straight  way  ?  Say,  It  is  he  who  hath  given 
you  being,  and  endued  you  with  hearing,  and  sight,  and  un- 
derstanding ;  yet  how  little  gratitude  have  ye  !  Say,  It  is  he 
who  hath  sown  you  in  the  earth,  and  unto  him  shall  ye  be 
gathered  together.  They  say,  When  shall  this  menace  be 
put  in  execution,  if  ye  speak  truth  ?  Answer,  The  knowl- 
edge of  this  matter  is  with  GOD  alone :  for  I  am  only  a  pub- 
lic warner.  But  when  they  shall  see  the  same  nigh  at  hand, 
the  countenance  of  the  infidels  shall  grow  sad :  and  it  shall 
be  said  unto  them,  This  is  what  ye  have  been  demanding. 
Say,  What  think  ye  ?  Whether  GOD  destroy  me  and  those 
who  are  with  me,  or  have  mercy  on  us  ;  who  will  protect  the 
unbelievers  from  a  painful  punishment  ?  Say,  He  is  the 
Merciful ;  in  him  do  we  believe,  and  in  him  do  we  put  our 
trust.  Ye  shall  hereafter  know  who  is  in  a  manifest  error. 
Say,  What  think  ye?  If  your  water  be  in  the  morning 
B wallowed  up  by  the  earth,  who  will  give  you  clear  and 
running  water? 


AL  KOJLLN.  435 

CHAPTER  LXVIIL 

DTTITLED,  THE  PEN  ;   REVKALED  AT  MECCA. 
IV  THB  KAMK  OV  THB  MOST  MERCIFUL  GOD. 

N.  BY  the  pen,  and  what  they  write,  thou,  0  Mohammed 
through  the  grace  of  thy  LORD,  art  not  distracted.  Verily 
there  is  prepared  for  thee  an  everlasting  reward  :  for  thou  art 
of  a  noble  disposition.  Thou  shall  see,  and  the  in/idels  shall 
see,  which  of  you  are  bereaved  of  your  senses.  Verily  thy 
LORD  well  knoweth  him  who  wandereth  from  his  path ;  and 
he  well  knoweth  those  who  are  rightly  directed :  wherefore 
obey  not  those  who  charge  thee  with  imposture.  They  desire 
that  thou  shouldest  be  easy  with  them,  and  they  will  be  easy 
with  thee.  But  obey  not  any  who  is  a  common  swearer,  a 
despicable  fellow,  a  defamer,  going  about  with  slander,  who 
forbiddeth  that  which  is  good,  who  is  also  a  transgressor,  a 
wicked  person,  cruel,  and  besides  this,  of  spurious  birth; 
although  he  be  possessed  of  wealth  and  many  children :  when 
our  signs  are  rehearsed  unto  him,  he  saith,  They  are  fables 
of  the  ancients.  We  will  stigmatize  him  on  the  nose.  Verily 
we  have  tried  the  Meccans,  as  we  formerly  tried  the  owner* 
of  the  garden  ;  when  they  swore  that  they  would  gather  the 
fruit  thereof  in  the  morning,  and  added  not  the  exception,  if 
it  please  God:  wherefore  a  surrounding  destruction  from  thy 
LORD  encompassed  it,  while  they  slept ;  and  in  the  morning 
it  became  like  a  garden  whose  fruits  had  been  gathered. 
And  they  called  the  one  to  the  other  as  they  rose  in  the  morn- 
ing, laying,  Go  out  early  to  your  plantation,  if  ye  intend  to 
gather  the  fruit  thereof:  so  they  went  on,  whispering  to  one 
another,  No  poor  man  shall  enter  the  garden  upon  you,  this 
day.  And  they  went  forth  early,  with  a  determined  purpose. 
And  when  they  saw  the  garden  blasted  and  destroyed,  they 
said,  We  have  certainly  mistaken  our  way :  but  when  they 
found  it  to  be  their  own  garden,  tfiey  cried,  Verily  we  are  not 
permitted  to  reap  the  fruit  thereof.  The  worthier  of  them 
said,  Did  I  not  say  unto  you,  Will  ye  not  give  praise  unto 
GOD  ?  They  answered,  Praise  be  unto  our  LORD  !  Verilj 
ire  have  been  unjust  doers.  And  they  began  to  blame  ont 


436  AL  KORAN. 

another,  and  they  said,  Woe  be  unto  us !  verily  we  have 
been  transgressors  :  peradventure  our  LORD  will  give  ua 
in  exchange  a  better  garden  than  this  :  and  we  earnestly  be- 
seech our  LORD  to  pardon  us.  Thus  is  the  chastisement  of 
this  life :  but  the  chastisement  of  the  next  shall  be  more 
grievous :  if  they  had  known  it,  they  would  have  taken  heed. 
Verily  for  the  pious  are  prepared,  with  their  LORD,  gardens 
of  delight.  Shall  we  deal  with  the  Moslems,  as  with  the 
wicked  ?  What  aileth  you  that  ye  judge  thus  ?  Have  ye  a 
bookyVom  heaven,  wherein  ye  read  that  ye  are  therein  prom- 
ised that  which  ye-  shall  choose  ?  Or  have  ye  received  oaths 
which  shall  be  binding  upon  us  to  the  day  of  resurrection, 
that  ye  shall  enjoy  what  ye  imagine  ?  Ask  them,  which  of 
them  will  be  the  voucher  of  this.  Or  have  they  companions 
who  will  vouch  for  them  ?  Let  them  produce  their  compan- 
ions, therefore,  if  they  speak  truth.  On  a  certain  day  the 
leg  shall  be  made  bare;  and  they  shall  be  called  upon  to 
worship,  but  they  shall  not  be  able.  Their  looks  shall  be 
cast  down  :  ignominy  shall  attend  them  ;  for  that  they  were 
invited  to  the  worship  of  God,  while  they  were  in  safety,  but 
would  not  hear.  Let  me  alone,  therefore,  with  him  who  ac- 
cuseth  this  new  revelation  of  imposture.  We  will  lead  them 
gradually  to  destruction,  by  ways  which  they  know  not :  and 
1  will  bear  with  them  for  a  long  time ;  for  my  stratagem  it 
effectual.  Dost  thou  ask  them  any  reward  for  thy  preach- 
ing? But  they  are  laden  with  debts.  Are  the  secrets  of 
futurity  with  them  ;  and  do  they  transcribe  the  same  from  the 
table  of  God's  decrees  ?  Wherefore  patiently  wait  the  judg- 
ment of  thy  LORD  :  and  be  not  like  him  who  was  swallowed 
by  the  fish  ;  when  he  cried  unto  God,  being  inwardly  vexed. 
Had  not  grace  from  his  LORD  reached  him,  he  had -surely 
been  cast  forth  on  the  naked  shore,  covered  with  shame :  but 
his  LORD  chose  him,  and  made  him  one  of  the  righteous. 
It  wanteth  little  but  that  the  unbelievers  strike  thee  down 
with  their  malicious  looks,  when  they  hear  the  admonition  of 
the  Koran  ;  and  they  say,  He  it  certainly  distracted :  but  it 
w  no  other  than  an  admonition  unto  all  creatures. 


AL   KORAN.  487 

CHAPTER    LXIX. 

OTTITLED,   THE    INFALLIBLE;    REVEALED    AT    MECCA. 

IK    THE     If AMB    OP    THE    MOST    MERCIFUL    GOD. 

THE  infallible  I1  What  u  the  infallible  ?  And  what  shall 
cause  thee  to  understand  what  the  infallible  is  f  The  tribes 
of  Thamud  and  Ad  denied  as  a  falsehood  the  day  which  shall 
strike  men's  hearts  with  terror.  But  Thamud  were  destroyed 
by  a  terrible  noise  :  and  Ad  were  destroyed  by  a  roaring  and 
furious  wind;  which  God  caused  to  assail  them  for  seven 
nights  and  eight  days  successively :  thou  mightest  have  seen 
people  during  the  same,  lying  prostrate,  as  though  they  had 
been  the  roots  of  hollow  palm-trees ;  and  couldest  thou  have 
eeen  any  of  them  remaining  ?  Pharaoh  also,  and  those  who 
were  before  him,  and  the  cities  which  were  overthrown,  were 
guilty  of  sin :  and  they  severally  were  disobedient  to  the 
apostle  of  their  LORD  ;  wherefore  he  chastised  them  with  an 
abundant  chastisement.  When  the  water  of  the  deluge  arose, 
we  carried  you  in  the  ark  which  swam  thereon ;  that  we 
might  make  the  same  a  memorial  unto  you,  and  the  retaining 
ear  might  retain  it.  And  when  one  blast  shall  sound  the 
trumpet,  and  the  earth  shall  be  moved  from  its  place,  and 
the  mountains  also,  and  shall  be  dashed  in  pieces  at  one 
stroke  :  on  that  day  the  inevitable  hour  of  judgment  shall 
suddenly  come  ;  and  the  heavens  shall  cleave  in  sunder,  and 
shall  fall  in  pieces,  on  that  day :  and  the  angels  shall  be  on 
the  sides  thereof;  and  eight  shall  bear  the  throne  of  thy 
LORD  above  them,  on  that  day.  On  that  day  ye  shall  be 
presented  before  the  judgment-seat  of  God ;  and  none  of  your 
secret  actions  shall  be  hidden.  And  he  who  shall  have  his 
book  delivered  into  his  right  hand  shall  say,  Take  ye,  read 
this  my  book ;  verily  I  thought  that  I  should  be  brought  to 
this  my  account :  he  shall  lead  a  pleasing  life,  in  a  lofty  gar- 
den, the  fruits  whereof  shall  be  near  to  gather.  Eat  and 
drink  with  easy  digestion  ;  because  of  the  good  works  which 
ye  sent  before  you,  in  the  days  which  are  past.  But  he  who 
shall  have  his  book  delivered  into  his  left  hand  shall  say,  Oh 
that  I  had  not  received  this  book  ;  and  that  I  had  not  known 


438  AL  KORAN. 

what  this  my  account  wag  I  Oh  that  death  had  made  an  end 
of  me  !  My  riches  have  not  profited  me  ;  and  my  power  ia 
passed  from  me.  And  God  shall  say  to  the  keepers  of  hett, 
Take  him,  and  bind  him,  and  cast  him  into  hell  to  be  burned : 
then  put  him  into  a  chain  of  the  length  of  seventy  cubits : 
because  he  believed  not  in  the  great  GOD  ;  and  was  not 
solicitous  to  feed  the  poor :  wherefore  this  day  he  shall  have 
no  friend  here  ;  nor  any  food,  but  the  filthy  corruption  flow- 
ing from  the  bodies  of  the  damned,  which  none  shall  eat  but 
the  sinners.  I  swear  by  that  which  ye  see,  and  that  which 
ye  see  not,  that  this  is  the  discourse  of  an  honorable  apostle 
and  not  the  discourse  of  a  poet :  how  little  do  ye  believe ! 
Neither  is  it  the  discourse  of  a  soothsayer :  how  little  are  ye 
admonished  !  It  is  a  revelation  from  the  LORD  of  all  creat- 
ures. If  Mohammed  had  forged  any  part  of  these  discourses 
concerning  us,  verily  we  had  taken  him  by  the  right  hand, 
and  had  cut  in  sunder  the  vein  of  his  heart ;  neither  would 
we  have  withheld  any  of  you  from  chastising  him.  And 
verily  this  book  is  an  admonition  unto  the  pious  ;  and  we 
well  know  that  there  are  some  of  you  who  charge  the  same 
with  imposture  :  but  it  shall  surely  be  an  occasion  of  grievous 
sighing  unto  the  infidels ;  for  it  is  the  truth  of  a  certainty. 
Wherefore  praise  the  name  of  thy  LORD,  the  great  God. 


CHAPTER  LXX. 

ENTITLED,    THE    STEPS  ;   REVEALED    AT   MECCA. 
IN    THE    NAME   OF    THE    HOST    MERCIFUL   GOD. 

ONE  demanded  and  called  for  vengeance  to  fall  on  the 
unbelievers  :  there  shall  be  none  to  avert  the  same  from  being 
inflicted  by  GOD,  the  possessor  of  the  steps :  by  which  the 
angels  ascend  unto  him,  and  the  spirit  Gabriel  also,  in  a  day 
whose  space  is  fifty  thousand  years :  wherefore  bear  the  in 
suits  of  the  Meccans  with  becoming  patience ;  for  they  see 
their  punishment  afar  off,  but  we  see  it  nigh  at  hand.1  On  a 
certain  day  the  heaven  shall  become  like  molten  brass,  and 


AL   KORAJf.  439 

the  mountains  like  wool  of  yarious  colors,  scattered  abroad  by 
the  wind:  and  a  friend  shall  not  ask  a  friend  concerning  hit 
condition,  although  they  see  one  another.  The  wicked  shall 
wish  to  redeem  himself  from  the  punishment  of  that  day,  by 
giving  up  his  children,  and  his  wife,  and  his  brother,  and  his 
kindred  who  showed  kindness  unto  him,  and  all  who  are  in 
the  earth ;  and  that  this  might  deliver  him :  by  no  means : 
for  hell  fire,  dragging  them  by  their  scalps,  shall  call  him 
who  shall  have  turned  his  back,  and  fled  from  the  faith,  and 
shall  have  amassed  riches,  and  covetously  hoarded  them. 
Verily  man  is  created  extremely  impatient:  when  evil 
toucheth  him,  he  is  full  of  complaint ;  but  when  good  befall- 
eth  him,  he  becometh  niggardly:  except  those  who  are  de- 
voutly given,  and  who  persevere  in  their  prayers ;  and  those 
of  whose  substance  a  due  and  certain  portion  is  ready  to  be 
given  unto  him  who  asketh,  and  him  who  is  forbidden  by 
shame  to  ask :  and  those  who  sincerely  believe  the  day  of 
judgment,  and  who  dread  the  punishment  of  their  LORD  : 
(for  there  is  none  secure  from  the  punishment  of  their  LORD  :) 
and  who  abstain  from  the  carnal  knowledge  of  women  other 
than  their  wives,  or  the  slaves  which  their  right  hands  pos- 
sess :  (for  as  to  them  they  shall  be  blameless  ;  but  whoever 
coveteth  any  woman  besides  these,  they  are  transgressors :) 
and  those  who  faithfully  keep  what  they  are  intrusted  with, 
and  their  covenant ;  and  who  are  upright  in  their  testimonies, 
and  who  carefully  observe  the  requisite  rites  in  their  prayers : 
these  shall  dwell  amidst  gardens,  highly  honored.  What 
aileth  the  unbelievers,  that  they  run  before  thee  in  companies, 
on  the  right  hand  and  on  the  left  ?  Doth  every  man  of  them 
wish  to  enter  into  a  garden  of  delight  ?  Bjr  no  means : 
verily  we  have  created  them  of  that  which  they  know.  I 
swear  by  the  LORD  of  the  east  and  of  the  west,  that  we  are 
able  to  destroy  them,  and  to  substitute  better  than  them  in 
their  room ;  neither  are  we  to  be  prevented,  if  we  shall 
please  so  to  do.  Wherefore  suffer  them  to  wade  in  vain  dis- 
putes, and  to  amuse  themselves  with  sport :  until  they  meet 
their  day  with  which  they  have  been  threatened ;  the  day 
whereon  they  shall  come  forth  hastily  from  their  graves,  as 
though  they  were  troops  hastening  to  their  standard  :  their 
looks  shall  be  downcast ;  ignominy  shall  attend  them.  Thii 
w  the  day  with  which  they  have  been  threatened. 


440  AL  KORAN. 

CHAPTER  LXXL 

IHTITLKD,    NOAH  ;    REVEALED    AT    MECCA, 
IK   THK    NAMB    OF    THB    MOST    MERCIFUL   GOD. 

VEEILT  we  sent  Noah  unto  his  people,  saying,  Warn  thy 
people,  before  a  grievous  punishment  overtake  them.  Noah 
said,  0  my  people,  verily  I  am  a  public  warner  unto  you  ; 
wherefore  serve  GOD,  and  fear  him,  and  obey  me ;  he  will 
forgive  you  part  of  your  sins  ;  and  will  grant  you  respite  until 
a  determined  time :  for  GOD'S  determined  time,  when  it 
cometh,  shall  not  be  deferred  ;  if  ye  were  men  of  understand- 
ing, ye  would  know  this.  He  said,  LORD,  verily  I  have 
called  my  people  night  and  day ;  but  my  calling  only  in- 
creaseth  their  aversion :  and  whensoever  I  call  them  to  the 
true  faith,  that  thou  mayest  forgive  them,  they  put  their 
fingers  in  their  ears,  and  cover  themselves  with  their  gar- 
ments, and  persist  in  their  infidelity,  and  proudly  disdain  my 
counsel.  Moreover  1  invited  them  openly,  and  I  spake  to 
them  again  in  public ;  and  I  also  secretly  admonished  them 
in  private ;  and  I  said,  Beg  pardon  of  your  LORD  ;  for  he  is 
inclined  to  forgive :  and  he  will  cause  the  heaven  to  pour 
down  rain  plentifully  upon  you,  and  will  give  you  increase 
of  wealth  and  of  children ;  and  he  will  provide  you  gardens, 
and  furnish  you  with  rivers.  What  aileth  you,  that  ye  hope 
not  for  benevolence  in  GOD  ;  since  he  hath  created  you  vari- 
ously ?  Do  ye  not  see  how  GOD  hath  created  the  seven 
heavens,  one  above  another ;  and  hath  placed  the  moon 
therein  for  a  light,  and  hath  appointed  the  sun  for  a  taper  ? 
GOD  hath  also  produced  and  caused  you  to  spring  forth  from 
the  earth :  hereafter  he  will  cause  you  to  return  into  the 
same ;  and  he  will  again  take  you  thence,  by  bringing  you 
forth  from  your  graves.  And  GOD  hath  spread  the  earth  as 
a  carpet  for  you,  that  ye  may  walk  therein  through  spacious 
paths.  Noah  said,  LORD,  verily  they  are  disobedient  unto 
me ;  and  they  follow  him  whose  riches  and  children  do  no 
other  than  increase  his  perdition.  And  they  devised  a 
dangerous  plot  against  Noah :  and  the  chief  men  said  to  th» 
tthers,  Ye  shall  by  no  means  leave  your  gods ;  neither  shall 


AL  KORAN.  441 

ye  forsake  Wadd,  nor  Sowa,  nor  Yaghuth,  and  Yauk,  and 
Nesr.  And  they  sedaced  many ;  (for  thou  shalt  only  in 
crease  error  in  the  wicked :)  because  of  their  sins  they  were 
drowned,  and  cast  into  the  fire  of  hell ;  and  they  found  none 
to  protect  them  against  GOD.  And  Noah  said,  LORD,  leave 
not  any  families  of  the  unbelievers  on  the  earth :  for  if  thou 
leave  them,  they  will  seduce  thy  servants,  and  will  beget 
none  but  a  wicked  and  unbelieving  offspring.  LORD,  for- 
give me  and  my  parents,  and  every  one  who  shall  enter  my 
house,  being  a  true  believer,  and  the  true  believers  of  both 
flexes ;  and  add  unto  the  unjust  doers  nothing  but  destruc- 
tion. 


CHAPTER  LXXIL 

nrriTLED,  THE  GENII;  REVEALED  AT  MECCA. 

IN    THB    NAME    OF    THE    MOST    MERCIFUL    OOD. 

SAT,  It  hath  been  revealed  unto  me  that  a  company  of 
genii  attentively  heard  me  reading  the  Koran,  and  said,  Verily 
we  have  heard  an  admirable  discourse ;  which  directeth  unto 
the  right  institution ;  wherefore  we  believe  therein,  and  we 
will  by  no  means  associate  any  other  with  our  LORD.  He 
(may  the  majesty  of  our  LORD  be  exalted !)  hath  taken  no 
wife,  nor  hath  he  begotten  any  issue.  Yet  the  foolish  among 
us  hath  spoken  that  which  is  extremely  false  of  GOD  ;  but 
we  verily  thought  that  neither  man  nor  genius  would  by  any 
means-  have  uttered  a  lie  concerning  GOD.  And  there  are 
certain  men  who  fly  for  refuge  unto  certain  of  the  genii ;  but 
they  increase  their  folly  and  transgression  :  and  they  also 
thought,  as  ye  thought,  that  GOD  would  not  raise  any  one  to 
life.  And  we  formerly  attempted  to  pry  into  what  wot  trans- 
acting in  heaven  ;  but  we  found  the  same  filled  with  a  strong 
guard  of  angels,  and  with  flaming  darts :  and  we  sat  on  torn* 
vf  the  seats  thereof  to  hear  the  discourse  of  its  inhabitants  ; 
but  whoever  listeneth  now,  findeth  a  flame  laid  in  ambush  for 
him,  to  guard  the  celestial  confines.  And  we  know  not 
whether  evil  he  hereby  intended  against  those  who  are  in  the 


442  AL   KORAN. 

earth,  or  whether  their  LORD  intendeth  to  direct  them  aright. 
There  are  some  among  us  who  are  upright ;  and  there  art 
some  among  us  who  are  otherwise :  we  are  of  different  ways. 
And  we  verily  thought  that  we  could  by  uo  means  frustrate 
GOD  in  the  earth,  neither  could  we  escape  him  by  flight : 
wherefore,  when  we  had  heard  the  direction  contained  in  the 
Koran,  we  believed  therein.  And  whoever  believeth  in  his 
LORD,  need  not  fear  any  diminution  of  his  reward,  nor  any 
injustice.  There  are  some  Moslems  among  us  ;  and  there  are 
others  of  us  who  swerve  from  righteousness.  And  whoso 
embraceth  Islam,  they  earnestly  seek  true  direction :  but 
those  who  swerve  from  righteousness  shall  be  fuel  for  hell. 
If  they  tread  in  the  way  of  truth,  we  will  surely  water  them 
with  abundant  rain ;  that  we  may  prove  them  thereby :  but 
whoso  turneth  aside  from  the  admonition  of  his  LORD,  him 
will  he  send  into  a  severe  torment.  Verily  the  places  of  wor- 
ship are  set  apart  unto  GOD  :  wherefore  invoke  not  any  other 
therein  together  with  GOD.  When  the  servant  of  GOD  stood 
up  to  invoke  him,  it  wanted  little  but  that  the  genii  had 
pressed  on  him  in  crowds,  to  hear  him  rehearse  the  Koran. 
Say,  Verily  I  call  upon  my  LORD  only,  and  I  associate  no 
other  god  with  him.  Say,  Verily  I  am  not  able,  of  myself ,  to 
procure  you  either  hurt,  or  a  right  institution.  Say,  Verily 
none  can  protect  me  against  GOD  ;  neither  shall  I  find  any 
refuge  besides  him.  lean  do  no  more  than  publish  what  hath 
been  revealed  unto  me  from  GOD,  and  his  messages.  And 
whosoever  shall  be  disobedient  unto  GOD,  and  his  apostle,  for 
him  is  the  fire  of  hell  prepared;  they  shall  remain  therein 
forever.  Until  they  see  the  vengeance  with  which  they  are 
threatened,  they  will  not  cease  their  opposition  :  but  then  shall 
they  know  who  were  the  weaker  in  a  protector,  and  the  fewer 
in  number.  Say,  I  know  not  whether  the  punishment  with 
which  ye  are  threatened  be  nigh,  or  whether  my  LORD  will 
appoint  for  it  a  distant  term.  He  knoweth  the  secrets  of 
futurity  ;  and  he  doth  not  communicate  his  secrets  unto  any, 
except  an  apostle  in  whom  he  is  well  pleased  :  and  he  causeth 
a  guard  of  angels  to  march  before  him,  and  behind  him ;  that 
he  may  know  that  they  have  executed  the  commissions  ot 
their  LORD  ;  he  comprehendeth  whatever  is  with  them ;  ana 
oounteth  all  things  by  number. 


AL  KORAK. 
CHAPTER  LXXm. 

JWTITLED,   THE    WRAPPED    UP;    REVEALED    AT    MECCA. 
IN    THE   NAMB    OF   THE   MOST    MERCIFUL   GOD. 

0  THOU  wrapped  up,  arise  to  prayer,  and  continue  therein 
during  the  night,  except  a  small  part ;  that  is  to  say,  during  one 
half  thereof:  or  do  thou  lessen  the  same  a  little  or  add  thereto. 
And  repeat  the  Koran  with  a  distinct  and  sonorous  voice : 
for  we  will  lay  on  thee  a  weighty  word.  Verily  the  rising  by 
night  is  more  efficacious  for  steadfast  continuance  in  devotion, 
and  more  conducive  to  decent  pronunciation :  for  in  the  day- 
time thou  hast  long  employment.  And  commemorate  the 
name  of  thy  LORD  ;  and  separate  thyself  unto  him,  renounc- 
ing wordly  vanities.  He  is  the  LORD  of  the  east,  and  of  the 
west ;  there  is  no  GOD  but  he.  Wherefore  take  him  for  thy 
patron  :  and  patiently  suffer  the  contumelies  which  the  infidels 
utter  against  thee  ;  and  depart  from  them  with  a  decent  de- 
parture. And  let  me  alone  with  those  who  charge  the  Koran 
with  falsehood,  who  enjoy  the  blessings  of  this  life  ;  and  bear 
with  them  for  a  while :  verily  with  us  are  heavy  fetters,  and 
a  burning  fire,  and  food  ready  to  choke  him  who  swalloweth  it, 
and  painful  torment.  On  a  certain  day  the  earth  shall  be 
shaken,  and  the  mountains  also,  and  the  mountains  shall  be- 
come a  heap  of  sand  poured  forth.  Verily  we  have  sent  unto 
you  an  apostle,  to  bear  witness  against  you  ;  as  we  sent  an 
apostle  unto  Pharaoh  ;  but  Pharaoh  was  disobedient  unto  the 
apostle ;  wherefore  we  chastised  him  with  a  heavy  chastise- 
ment. How,  therefore,  will  ye  escape,  if  ye  believe  not,  the 
day  which  shall  make  children  become  gray-headed  through 
terror?  The  heaven  shall  be  rent  in  sunder  thereby:  the 
promise  thereof  shall  surely  be  performed.  Verily  this  it  an 
admonition ;  and  whoever  is  willing  to  be  admonished  will 
take  the  way  unto  his  LORD.  Thy  LORD  knoweth  that  thou 
continuest  in  prayer  and  meditation  sometimes  near  two  third 
parts  of  the  night,  and  sometimes  one  half  thereof,  and  at  other 
times  one  third  part  thereof;  and  a  part  of  thy  companions,  who 
are  with  thee,  do  the  same.  But  GOD  measureth  the  night  and 
the  day  ;  he  knoweth  that  ye  cannot  exactly  compute  the  same 
wherefore  he  turneth  favorably  unto  you.  Read,  therefor^ 


444  AL   KORAN. 

so  much  of  the  Koran  as  may  be  easy  unto  you.  He  knoweth 
that  there  will  be  some  infirm  among  you  ;  and  others  travel 
through  the  earth,  that  they  may  obtain  a  competency  of  the 
jounty  of  GOD  :  and  jthers  fight  in  the  defence  of  GOD'S  faith. 
Read,  therefore,  so  much  of  the  same  as  may  be  easy.  And 
observe  the  stated,  times  of  prayer,  and  pay  the  legal  alms  ; 
and  lend  unto  GOD  an  acceptable  loan  ;  lor  whatever  good 
ye  send  before  your  souls,  ye  shall  find  the  same  with  GOD. 
This  witt  be  better,  and  will  merit  a  greater  reward.  And  ask 
GOD  forgiveness ;  for  GOD  is  ready  to  forgive,  and  raercifuL 


CHAPTER  LXXIV 

INTITLED,   THE    COVERED  ;   REVEALED    AT   MECCA. 
IK    THE    NAME    OF   THE    HOST    UEBCIFDL    ODD. 

0  THOU  covered,  arise  and  preach,  and  magnify  thy  LORD 
And  cleanse  thy  garments  :  and  fly  every  abomination :  and 
be  not  liberal  in  hopes  to  receive  more  in  return  :  and  patient- 
ly wait  for  thy  LORD.  When  the  trumpet  shall  sound,  verily 
that  day  shall  be  a  day  of  distress  and  uneasiness  unto  the 
unbelievers.  Let  me  alone  with  him  whom  I  have  created, 
on  whom  I  have  bestowed  abundant  riches,  and  children 
dwelling  in  his  presence,  and  for  whom  I  have  disposed  affairs 
in  a  smooth  and  easy  manner,  and  who  desire th  that  I  will 
yet  add  other  blessings  unto  him.  By  no  means  :  because  he 
is  an  adversary  to  our  signs.  I  will  afflict  him  with  grievous 
calamities :  for  he  hath  devised  and  prepared  contumelioiH 
expressions  to  ridicule  the  Koran.  May  he  be  cursed  :  how 
maliciously  hath  he  prepared  the  same !  And  again,  may 
he  be  cursed :  how  maliciously  hath  he  prepared  the  same  ! 
Then  he  looked,  and  frowned,  and  put  on  an  austere  counte- 
nance :  then  he  turned  back,  and  was  elated  with  pride  ;  and  he 
eaid,  This  is  no  other  than  a  piece  of  magic,  borrowed  from 
others :  these  are  only  the  words  of  a  man.  I  will  cast  him 
to  be  burned  in  hell.  And  what  shall  make  thee  to  under 
stand  what  hell  is  ?  It  leaveth  not  anything  unconsumtd, 


AL   KORAN.  445 

neither  doth  it  suffer  anything  to  escape :  it  scorcheth  men's, 
flesh :  over  the  same  are  nineteen  angels  appointed.  We 
have  appointed  none  but  angels  to  preside  over  hell  fire :  and 
we  have  expressed  the  number  of  them  only  for  an  occasion 
of  discord  to  the  unbelievers ;  that  they  to  whom  the  scriptures 
have  been  given  may  be  certain  of  the  veracity  of  this  book, 
and  the  true  believers  may  increase  in  faith  ;  and  that  those 
to  whom  the  scriptures  have  been  given,  and  the  true  believ- 
ers, may  not  doubt  hereafter  ;  and  that  those  in  whose  hearts 
there  it  an  infirmity,  and  the  unbelievers,  may  say,  What 
mystery  doth  GOD  intend  by  this  number  ?  Thus  doth  GOD 
cause  to  err  whom  he  pleaseth  ;  and  he  directeth  whom  he 
pleaseth.  None  knoweth  the  armies  of  thy  LORD  besides 
him ;  and  this  is  no  other  than  a  memento  unto  mankind. 
Assuredly.  By  the  moon,  and  the  night  when  it  retreateth, 
and  the  morning  when  it  reddeneth,  I  swear  that  this  is  one 
of  the  most  terrible  calamities,  giving  warning  unto  men,  as 
well  as  unto  him  among  you  who  desireth  to  go  forward,  as 
unto  him  who  chooseth  to  remain  behind.  Every  soul  is  given 
in  pledge  for  that  which  it  shall  have  wrought :  except  the 
companions  of  the  right  hand ;  who  shall  dwell  in  gardens, 
and  shall  ask  one  another  questions  concerning  the  wicked, 
and  shall  also  ask  the  wicked  themselves,  saying,  What  hath 
brought  you  into  hell  ?  They  shall  answer,  We  were  not  of 
those  who  were  constant  at  prayer,  neither  did  we  feed  the 
poor ;  and  we  waded  in  vain  disputes  with  the  fallacious 
reasoners  ;  and  we  denied  the  day  of  judgment,  until  death 
overtook  us  :  and  the  intercession  of  the  intercedes  shall  not 
avail  them.  What  aileth  them,  therefore,  that  they  turn  aside 
from  the  admonition  of  the  Koran,  as  though  they  were  tim- 
orous asses  flying  from  a  lion  ?  But  every  man  among  them 
desireth  that  he  may  have  expanded  scrolls  delivered  to  him 
from  God.  By  no  means.  They  fear  not  the  life  to  come. 
By  no  means :  verily  this  is  a  sujficient  warning.  Whoso 
is  willing  to  be  warned,  him  shall  it  warn  :  but  they  shall  not 
be  warned,  unless  GOD  shall  please.  He  is  worthy  to  b« 
feared  ;  and  he  is  inclined  to  forgiveness. 


446  AL  KORAN. 


CHAPTER  LXXV. 

THE   BE8UEBECTION  ;    BEVEALED    AT   MECCA. 
IN   THB   NAME   OF   THE    MOST    MERCIFUL    GOD. 

VERILY  I  swear  by  the  day  of  resurrection  ;  and  I  sweat 
by  the  soul  which  accuseth  itself:  doth  man  think  that  we 
will  not  gather  his  bones  together  ?  Yea  :  we  are  able  to 
put  together  the  smallest  bones  of  his  fingers.  But  man 
chooseth  to  be  wicked,  for  the  time  which  is  before  him. 
He  asketh,  When  Witt  the  day  of  resurrection  be  ?  But 
when  the  sight  shall  be  dazzled,  and  the  moon  shall  be 
eclipsed,  and  the  sun  and  the  moon  shall  be  in  conjunction  ; 
on  that  day  man  shall  say,  Where  it  a  place  of  refuge  ?  By 
no  means  :  there  shatt  be  no  place  to  fly  unto.  With  thy 
LORD  shall  be  the  sure  mansion  of  rest  on  that  day  :  on  that 
day  shall  a  man  be  told  that  which  he  hath  done  first  and 
last.  Yea  ;  a  man  shatt  be  an  evidence  against  himself:  and 
though  he  offer  his  excuses,  they  shatt  not  be  received.  Move 
not  thy  tongue,  0  Mohammed,  in  repeating  the  revelations 
brought  thee  by  Gabriel,  before  he  shall  have  finished  the  same, 
that  thou  mayest  quickly  commit  them  to  memory  :  for  the 
collecting  the  Koran  in  thy  mind,  and  the  teaching  thee  the 
true  reading  thereof,  are  incumbent  on  us.  But  when  we 
shall  have  read  the  same  unto  thee  by  the  tongue  of  the  angel, 
do  thou  follow  the  reading  thereof  :  and  afterwards  it  shall  be 
our  part  to  explain  it  unto  thee.  By  no  means  shalt  thou  be 
thus  hasty  for  the  future.  But  ye  love  that  which  hasteneth 
away,  and  neglect  the  life  to  come.  Some  countenances  on 
that  day  shall  be  bright,  looking  towards  their  LORD  :  and 
some  countenances,  on  that  day,  shall  be  dismal  :  they  shall 
think  that  a  crushing  calamity  shall  be  brought  upon  them. 
Assuredly.  When  a  man's  soul  shall  come  up  to  his  throat, 
in  his  last  agony,  and  the  standers-by  shall  say,  Who  bringeth 
a  charm  to  recover  him  f  and  shall  think  it  to  be  his  departure 
out  of  this  world  ;  and  one  leg  shall  be  joined  with  the  other 
leg  :  on  that  day  unto  thy  LORD  shall  he  be  driven.  For 
he  believed  not,  neither  did  he  pray  ;  but  he  accused  Godt 
vpostle  of  imposture,  and  turned  back  from  obeying  him 


Ai,   KORAN.  447 

then  he  departed  unto  his  family,  walking  with  a  haughty 
mien.  Wherefore,"  woe  be  unto  thee ;  woe !  And  again, 
woe  be  unto  thee  ;  woe  !  Doth  man  think  that  he  shall  be 
left  at  full  liberty,  without  control  f  Was  he  not  a  drop  of 
seed,  which  was  emitted?  Afterwards  he  became  a  little  co- 
agulated blood,  and  God  formed  him,  and  fashioned  him  with 
just  proportion ;  and  made  of  him  two  sexes,  the  male  and 
the  female.  Is  not  he  who  hath  done  this  able  to  quicken 
the  dead  ? 


CHAPTER   LXXVL 

ENTITLED,    MAN  ;     REVEALED    AT    MECCA. 
IN    THE    NAME    Or    THE    MOST    MERCIFUL    GOD. 

DID  there  not  pass  over  man  a  long  space  of  time  ;  during 
which  he  was  a  thing  not  worthy  of  remembrance  P1  Verily 
we  have  created  man  of  the  mingled  seed  of  both  sexes,  that 
we  might  prove  him  :  and  we  have  made  him  to  hear  and  to 
see.  We  have  surely  directed  him  in  th«  way ;  whether  he 
be  grateful,  or  ungrateful.  Verily  we  have  prepared  for  the 
unbelievers  chains,  and  collars,  and  burning  fire.  But  the 
just  shall  drink  of  a  cup  of  wine,  mixed  with  the  water  of 
Cafur,  a  fountain  whereof  the  servants  of  GOD  shall  drink  ; 
they  shall  convey  the  same  by  channels  whithersoever  they 
please.  These  fulfil  their  vow,  and  dread  the  day,  the  evil 
whereof  will  disperse  itself  far  abroad ;  and  give  food  unto 
the  poor,  and  the  orphan,  and  the  bondman,  for  his  sake,  tay- 
ing,  We  feed  you  for  GOD'S  sake  only :  we  desire  no  recom- 
pense from  you,  nor  any  thanks :  verily  we  dread,  from  our 
LORD,  a  dismal  and  calamitous  day.  Wherefore  GOD  shall 
deliver  them  from  the  evil  of  that  day,  and  shall  cast  on 
them  brightness  of  countenance,  and  joy ;  and  shall  reward 
them,  for  their  patient  persevering,  with  a  garden  and  silk 
garments :  therein  shall  they  repose  themselves  on  couches  ; 
they  shall  see  therein  neither  sun  nor  moon  ;  and  the  shades 
thereof  shall  be  near  spreading  above  them,  and  the  fruits 
thereof  shall  hang  low,  so  as  to  be  easily  gathered.  And 


448  AL  KORAtf. 

their  attendants  shall  go  round  about  unto  them,  with  vessels 
of  silver,  and  goblets :  the  bottles  shall  be  bottles  of  silver 
$hining  like  glass  ;  they  shall  determine  the  measure  thereof 
by  their  wish.  And  therein  shall  they  be  given  to  drink  of  a 
cup  of  wine,  mixed  with  the  water  of  Zenjebil,  a  fountain  in 
paradise  named  Salsabil :  and  youths,  which  shall  continut 
forever  in  their  bloom,  shall  go  round  to  attend  them  ;  whei 
thou  seest  them,  thou  shalt  think  them  to  be  scattered  pearls 
and  when  thou  lookest,  there  shalt  thou  behold  delights,  and 
a  great  kingdom.  Upon  them  shall  be  garments  of  fine  green 
silk,  and  of  brocades,  and  they  shall  be  adorned  with  brace- 
lets of  silver :  and  their  LORD  shall  give  them  to  drink  of  » 
most  pure  liquor ;  and  shall  say  unto  them.  Verily  this  ia 
your  reward  :  and  your  endeavor  is  gratefully  accepted. 
Verily  we  have  sent  down  unto  thee  the  Koran,  by  a  grad- 
ual revelation.  Wherefore  patiently  wait  the  judgment  of 
thy  LORD  ;  and  obey  not  any  wicked  person  or  unbeliever 
among  them.  And  commemorate  the  name  of  thy  LORD, 
in  the  morning,  and  in  the  evening :  and  during  some  part 
of  the  night  worship  him,  and  praise  him  a  long  part  of  the 
night.  Verily  these  men  love  the  transitory  life,  and  leave 
behind  them  the  heavy  day  of  judgment.  We  have  created 
them,  and  have  strengthened  their  joints  ;  and  when  we 
please,  we  will  substitute  others  like  unto  them,  in  their  stead. 
Verily  this  is  an  admonition :  and  whoso  willeth,  taketh  the 
way  unto  his  LORD  :  but  ye  shall  not  will,  unless  GOD  will- 
eth ;  for  GOD  is  knowing  and  wise.  He  leadeth  whom  he 
pleaseth  into  his  mercy ;  but  for  the  unjust  hath  he  prepareJ 
a  grievous  punishment. 


CHAPTER   LXXVIL 

0TTITLED,  THOSE  WHICH  ARK  SENT  ;   BEVEALED  AT  MECCA. 
IK    THB    RUT!    Or   THB    MOST    MEKCIFUL    GOD. 

BY  the  angels  which  are  sent  by  God,  following  one  another 
hi  a  continual  series  ;  and  those  which  move  swiftly,  with  a 


A.L  KORAN.  449 

rapid  motion ;  and  by  those  which  disperse  his  command^ 
by  divulging  them  through  the  earth  ;  and  by  those  which 
separate  truth  from  falsehood,  by  distinguishing  the  same  ; 
and  by  those  which  communicate  the  divine  admonitions,  to 
excuse,  or  to  threaten  :  verily  that  which  ye  are  promised  it 
inevitable.  When  the  stars,  therefore,  shall  be  put  out,  and 
when  the  heaven  shall  be  cloven  in  sunder,  and  when  the 
mountains  shall  be  winnowed,  and  when  the  apostles  shall 
have  a  time  assigned  to  them  to  appear  and  bear  testimony 
against  their  respective  people  ;  to  what  a  day  shall  that  ap- 
pointment be  deferred  !  to  the  day  of  separation :  and  whai 
shall  cause  thee  to  understand  what  the  day  of  separation  is  ? 
On  that  day,  woe  be  unto  them  who  accused  the  prophets  of 
imposture  !  Have  we  not  destroyed  the  obstinate  unbelievers 
of  old  ?  We  will  also  cause  those  of  the  latter  times  to  fol- 
low them.  Thus  do  we  deal  with  the  wicked.  Woe  be,  on 
that  day,  unto  them  who  accused  the  prophets  of  imposture  ! 
Have  we  not  created  you  of  a  contemptible  drop  of  seed, 
which  we  placed  in  a  sure  repository,  until  the  fixed  term  of 
delivery  f  And  we  were  able  to  do  this :  for  we  are  most 
powerful.  On  that  day,  woe  be  unto  those  who  accused  the 
prophets  of  imposture  :  Have  we  not  made  the  earth  to  con- 
tain the  living  and  the  dead,  and  placed  therein  stable  and 
lofty  mountains,  and  given  you  fresh  water  to  drink  ?  Woe 
be,  on  that  day,  unto  those  who  accused  the  prophets  of  im- 
posture !  It  shall  be  said  unto  them,  Go  ye  to  the  punish- 
ment which  ye  denied  as  a  falsehood  :  go  ye  into  the  shadow 
of  the  smoke  of  heU,  which  shall  ascend  in  three  columns, 
and  shall  not  shade  you  from  the  heat,  neither  shall  it  be  of 
service  against  the  flame  ;  but  it  shall  cast  forth  sparks  as  big 
as  towers,  resembling  yellow  camels  in  color.  Woe  be,  on 
that  day,  unto  those  who  accused  the  prophets  of  imposture ! 
This  shall  be  a  day  whereon  they  shall  not  speak  to  any  pur- 
pose ;  neither  shall  they  be  permitted  to  excuse  themselves. 
Woe  be,  on  that  day,  unto  those  who  accused  the  prophets  of 
Imposture!  This  shall  be  the  day  of  separation  :  we  will 
assemble  both  you  and  your  predecessors.  Wherefore,  if  ye 
have  any  cunning  stratagem,  employ  stratagems  against  me. 
Woe  be,  on  that  day,  unto  those  who  accused  the  prophets  of 
imposture !  But  the  pious  shall  dwell  amidst  shades  and 
fountains,  and  fruits  of  the  kind*  which  they  shall  desire : 
tnd  it  thatt  be  taid  unto  them,  Eat  and  drink  with  easy  dige«- 
29 


450  AL  KORAN. 

tion,  in  recompense  for  that  which  ye  have  wrought ;  for  thus 
do  we  reward  the  righteous  doers.  Woe  be,  on  that  day, 
unto  those  who  accused  the  prophets  of  imposture !  Eat,  0  un- 
believers, and  enjoy  the  pleasures  of  this  life,  for  a  little  while  : 
verily  ye  are  wicked  men.  Woe  be,  on  that  day,  unto  those 
who  accused  the  prophets  of  imposture !  And  when  it  is 
said  unto  them,  Bow  down  ;  they  do  not  bow  down.  Woe 
be,  on  that  day,  unto  those  who  accused  the  prophets  of  im- 
posture !  In  what  new  revelation  will  they  believe,  after 
this. 


CHAPTER   LXXVHI. 

ENTITLED,  THE   NEWS  ;    REVEALED    AT    MECCA. 
IN    THE    NAME    OF    THE    MOST    MERCIFUL   OOD. 

CONCERNING  what  do  the  unbelievers  ask  questions  of  one 
another  ?  Concerning  the  great  news  of  the  resurrection, 
about  which  they  disagree.  Assuredly  they  shall  hereafter 
know  the  truth  thereof.  Again,  Assuredly  they  shall  here- 
after know  the  truth  thereof.  Have  we  not  made  the  earth 
for  a  bed,  and  the  mountains  for  stakes  to  fix  the  same  ?  And 
have  we  not  created  you  of  two  sexes ;  and  appointed  your 
sleep  for  rest ;  and  made  the  night  a  garment  to  cover  you , 
and  destined  the  day  to  the  gaining  your  livelihood ;  and 
built  over  you  seven  solid  heavens ;  and  placed  therein  a 
burning  lamp?  And  do  we  not  send  down  from  the  clouds 
pressing  forth  rain,  water  pouring  down  in  abundance,  that 
we  may  thereby  produce  corn,  and  herbs,  and  gardens  plant- 
ed thick  with  trees  ?  Verily  the  day  of  separation  is  a  fixed 
period :  the  day  whereon  the  trumpet  shall  sound,  and  ye 
shall  come  in  troops  to  judgment ;  and  the  heaven  shall  be 
opened,  and  shall  be  full  of  gates  for  the  angels  to  pass 
through  ;  and  the  mountains  shall  pass  away,  and  become  as 
a  vapor ;  verily  hell  shall  be  a  place  of  ambush,  a  recep- 
tacle for  the  transgressors,  who  shall  remain  therein  for  ages : 
they  shall  not  taste  any  refreshment  therein,  or  any  drink, 
except  boiling  water,  and  filthy  corruption  :  a  fit  recompense 


AL  KORAN.  451 

fm  their  deeds!  For  they  hoped  that  they  should  not  b€ 
Drought  to  an  account,  and  they  disbelieved  our  signs,  accus- 
ing them  of  falsehood.  But  everything  have  we  computed, 
and  written  down.  Taste,  therefore :  we  will  not  add  unto 
you  any  other  than  torment.  But  for  the  pious  is  prepared  a 
place  of  bliss :  gardens  planted  with  trees,  and  vineyards, 
and  damsels  with  swelling  breasts,  of  equal  age  with  them- 
$clves,  and  a  full  cup.  They  shall  hear  no  vain  discouise 
there,  nor  any  falsehood.  This  shall  be  their  recompense 
from  thy  LORD  ;  a  gift  fully  sufficient :  from  the  LORD  of 
heaven  and  earth,  and  of  whatever  is  between  them ;  the 
Merciful.  The  inhabitants  of  heaven  or  of  earth  shall  not 
dare  to  demand  audience  of  him :  the  day  whereon  the  spirit 
Gabriel  and  the  other  angels  shall  stand  in  order,  they  shall 
not  speak  in  behalf  of  themselves  or  others,  except  he  only  to 
whom  the  Merciful  shall  grant  permission,  and  who  shall 
say  that  which  is  right.  This  is  the  infallible  day.  Whoso, 
therefore,  willeth,  let  him  return  unto  his  LORD.  Verily 
we  threaten  you  with  a  punishment  nigh  at  hand :  the  day 
whereon  a  man  shall  behold  the  good  or  evil  deeds  which  his 
hands  have  sent  before  him ;  and  the  unbeliever  shall  say, 
Would  to  GOD  I  were  dust ! 


CHAPTER  LXXIX. 

IHTITLED,   THOSE   WHO    TEAR    FORTH;    REVEALED   AT 
MECCA. 

IK    THE   HAMB   Or   THE   MOST    MKKCIFCL   GOD. 

Br  the  angels  who  tear  forth  the  souls  of  some  with  vio- 
lence ;  and  by  those  who  draw  forth  the  souls  of  others  with 
gentleness ;  by  those  who  glide  swimmingly  through  the  air 
with  the  commands  of  God  ;  and  thoi»e  who  precede  and  ushoi 
the  righteous  to  paradise  ;  and  those  who  subordinately  gov- 
ern the  affairs  of  this  world :  on  a  certain  day,  the  disturb- 
ing blast  of  the  trumpet  shall  disturb  the  universe  ;  and  the 
mbsequent  blast  shall  follow  it. »  On  that  day  men's  hearts 


452  AL  KORAN. 

shall  tremble :  their  looks  shall  be  cast  down.  The  it^ftdeh 
eay,  Shall  we  surely  be  made  to  return  whence  we  came v 
After  we  shall  have  become  rotten  bones,  shall  we  be  again 
raised  to  life  ?  They  say,  This  then  will  be  a  return  to  loss. 
Verily  it  will  be  but  one  sounding  of  the  trumpet^  and,  behold, 
they  shall  appear  alive  on  the  face  of  the  earth.  Hath  not 
the  story  of  Moses  reached  thee  ?  When  his  LORD  called 
unto  him  in  the  holy  valley  Towa,  saying,  Go  unto  Pharaoh; 
for  he  is  insolently  wicked :  and  say,  Hast  thou  a  desire  to 
become  just  and  holy ;  and  I  will  direct  thee  unto  thy  LORD, 
that  thou  mayest  fear  to  transgress.  And  he  showed  him  the 
very  great  sign  of  the  rod  turned  into  a  serpent :  but  he 
charged  Moses  with  imposture,  and  rebelled  against  God, 
Then  he  turned  back  hastily ;  and  he  assembled  the  magi- 
cians, and  cried  aloud,  saying,  I  am  your  supreme  LORD. 
Wherefore  GOD  chastised  him  with  the  punishment  of  the 
life  to  come,  and  also  of  this  present  life.  Verily  herein  is 
an  example  unto  him  who  feareth  to  rebel.  Are  ye  more 
difficult  to  create,  or  the  heaven  whiclj  God  hath  built  ?  He 
hath  raised  the  height  thereof,  and  hath  perfectly  formed  the 
same :  and  he  hath  made  the  night  thereof  dark,  and  hath 
produced  the  light  thereof.  After  this,  he  stretched  out  the 
earth,  whence  he  caused  to  spring  forth  the  water  thereof,  and 
the  pasture  thereof;  and  he  established  the  mountains,  for 
the  use  of  yourselves,  and  of  your  cattle.  When  the  prevail- 
ing, the  great  day  shall  come,  on  that  day  shall  a  man  call  to 
remembrance  what  he  hath  purposely  done :  and  hell  shall 
be  exposed  to  the  view  of  the  spectator.  And  whoso  shall 
have  transgressed,  and  shall  have  chosen  this  present  life  ; 
verily  hell  shall  be  his  abode ;  but  whoso  shall  have  dreaded 
the  appearing  before  his  LORD,  and  shall  have  refrained  his 
soul  from  lust,  verily  paradise  shall  be  his  abode.  They  will 
ask  thee  concerning  the  last  hour,  when  will  be  the  fixed  time 
thereof?  By  what  means  canst  thou  give  any  information  of 
the  same?  Unto  thy  LORD  belongeth  the  knowledge  of  the 
period  thereof:  and  thou  art  only  a  warner,  who  fearcst  the 
same.  The  day  whereon  they  shall  see  the  same,  it  shall 
teem  to  them  as  though  they  had  not  tarried  in  tht  world 
longer  than  an  evening,  or  a  morning  thereof. 


AL  KORAN.  45* 

CHAPTER  LXXX. 

IICTITLBD,    HE    FROWNED  ;    REVEALED    AT    MECCA. 
IH  THB    WAMB    OF    TH«    MOST    MEBCIFDL   SOD. 

THE  prophet  frowned,  and  turned  aside,  because  the  blind 
man  came  unto  him :  and  how  dost  thou  know  whether  he 
shall  peradventure  be  cleansed  from  his  sins,  or  whether  he 
§hall  be  admonished,  and  the  admonition  shall  profit  him  ? 
The  man  who  is  wealthy,  thou  receives!  respectfully ;  where- 
as it  is  not  to  be  charged  on  thee,  that  he  is  not  cleansed :  but 
him  who  cometh  unto  thee  earnestly,  seeking  his  salvation, 
and  who  feareth  God,  dost  thou  neglect.  By  no  means 
ihouldst  thou  act  thus.  Verily  the  Koran  is  an  admonition 
(and  he  who  is  willing  retaineth  the  same;)  written  in  vol- 
umes honorable,  exalted,  and  pure ;  by  the  hands  of  scribes 
honored,  and  just  May  man  be  cursed !  What  hath  seduced 
him  to  infidelity  ?  Of  what  thing  doth  God  create  him  ? 
Of  a  drop  of  seed  doth  he  create  him  ;  and  he  formeth 
him  with  proportion ;  and  then  facilitateth  his  passage 
out  of  the  womb:  afterwards  he  causeth  him  to  die,  and 
layeth  him  in  the  grave ;  hereafter,  when  it  shall  please 
him,  he  shall  raise  him  to  life.  Assuredly,  He  hath  not 
hitherto  fully  performed  what  God  hath  commanded  him. 
Let  man  consider  his  food ;  in  what  manner  it  is  provided. 
We  pour  down  water  by  showers ;  afterwards  we  cleave  the 
earth  in  clefts,  and  we  cause  corn  to  spring  forth  therein,  and 
grapes,  and  clover,  and  the  olive,  and  the  palm,  and  gardens 
planted  thick  with  trees,  and  fruits,  and  grass,  for  the  use  of 
yourselves  and  of  your  cattle.  When  the  stunning  sound  of 
the  trumpet  shall  be  heard ;  on  that  day  shall  a  man  fly  from 
his  brother,  and  his  mother,  and  his  father,  and  his  wife,  and 
his  children.  Every  man  of  them,  on  that  day,  shall  have 
business  of  his  own  sufficient  to  employ  his  thoughts.  On 
that  day  the  faces  of  some  shall  be  bright,  laughing,  and  joy- 
ful :  and  upon  the  faces  of  others,  on  that  day,  shall  there  bt 
iust ;  darkness  shall  cover  them.  These  are  the  unbelievers, 
the  wicked. 


464  AL   KORAV. 

CHAPTER  LXXXL 

nnrTLED,  THE  FOLDING  UP;  REVEALED  AT  MECCA 

ITS    THB    NAME    OF    THB    MOST    MERCIFUL    GOD. 

WHEN  the  sun  shall  be  folded  up;  and  when  the  star* 
shall  fall ;  and  when  the  mountains  shall  be  made  to  paae 
away;  and  when  the  camels  ten  months  gone  with  young 
shall  be  neglected ;  and  when  the  wild  beasts  shall  be  gath- 
ered together ;  and  when  the  seas  shall  boil ;  and  when  tho 
eouls  shall  be  joined  again  to  their  bodies;  and  when  the  girl 
who  hath  been  buried  alive  shall  be  asked  for  what  crime 
she  was  put  to  death  ;  and  when  the  books  shall  be  laid 
open ;  and  when  the  heaven  shall  be  removed ;  and  when 
hell  shall  burn  fiercely ;  and  when  paradise  shall  be  brought 
near ;  every  soul  shall  know  what  it  hath  wrought.  Verily  I 
swear  by  the  stars  which  are  retrograde,  which  move  swiftly, 
and  which  hide  themselves ;  and  by  the  night,  when  it  com- 
eth  on  ;  and  by  the  morning,  when  it  appeareth ;  that  these. 
are  the  words  of  an  honorable  messenger,  endued  with 
strength,  of  established  dignity  in  the  sight  of  the  possessor 
of  the  throne,  obeyed  by  the  angels  under  his  authority,  and 
faithful :  and  your  companion  Mohammed  is  not  distracted. 
He  had  already  seen  him  in  the  clear  horizon :  and  he  sus- 
pected not  the  secrets  revealed  unto  him.  Neither  are  these 
the  words  of  an  accursed  devil.  Whither,  therefore,  are 
you  going  ?  This  is  no  other  than  an  admonition  unto  all 
creatures  ;  unto  him  among  you  who  shall  be  willing  ti  >  walk 
uprightly :  but  ye  shall  not  will,  unless  GOD  wilJeth,  fh« 
LORD  of  all  creatures. 


CHAPTER  LXXXIL 

IHTITLED,  THE   CLEAVING  IN  SUNDER;  REVEALED  AT 
MECCA. 

IIT   THB    NAME    OF   THB   HOST   MERCIFUL   GOD. 

WHEN  the  heaven  shall  be  cloven  in  sunder ;  and  when 
the  stars  shall  be  scattered ;  and  when  the  seas  shall  be  suf- 


AL    KORAN.  455 

fered  to  join  their  waters;  and  when  the  graves  shall  be 
turned  upside  down :  every  soul  shall  know  what  it  hath 
committed,  and  what  it  hath  omitted.  O  man,  what  hath 
§educed  thee  against  thy  gracious  LORD,  who  hath  created 
thee,  and  put  thee  together,  and  rightly  disposed  thee  ?  In 
what  form  he  pleased  hath  he  fashioned  thee.  Assuredly. 
B  it  ye  deny  the  last  judgment  as  a  falsehood.  Verily  then 
art  appointed  over  you  guardian  angels,  honorable  in  the  sight 
of  God,  writing  down  your  actions  ;  who  know  that  which  ye 
do.  The  just  shall  surely  be  in  a  place  of  delight :  but  the 
wicked  shall  surely  be  in  hell ;  they  shall  be  cast  therein  to 
be  turned,  on  the  day  of  judgment,  and  they  shall  not  be 
absent  therefrom  forever.  What  shall  cause  thee  to  under- 
stand what  the  day  of  judgment  is  ?  Again,  What  shall 
cause  thee  to  understand  what  the  day  of  judgment  it?  ft 
it  a  day  whereon  one  soul  shall  not  be  able  to  obtain  any 
thing  in  behalf  of  another  soul :  and  the  command,  on  that 
day,  shall  be  GOD'S. 


CHAPTER  LXXXTTL 

UTTITLED,  THOSE  WHO  GIVE  SHORT    MEASURE  OR  WEIGHT  ; 
REVEALED    AT    MECCA. 

IN  THR  NAME  OP  THS  MOST  MERCIFUL  OOD. 

WOE  b«  unto  those  who  give  short  measure  or  weight . 
who,  when  they  receive  by  measure  from  other  men,  take  tb/ 
full;  but  when  they  measure  unto  them,  or  weigh  jnto  them, 
defraud !  Do  not  these  think  they  shall  be  raised  again,  at 
the  sreat  day,  the  day  whereon  mankind  shall  stand  before 
the  LORD  of  all  creatures?  By  no  means.  Verily  the| 
register  of  the  actions  of  the  nicked  is  surely  Jn  Sejjin  , 
And  what  shall  make  thee  to  understand  what  Sejjin  u  ?  // 
it  a  book  distinctly  written.  Woe  be  on  that  day,  unto 
those  who  accused  the  prophets  of  imposture ;  who  denied 
the  day  of  judgment  as  a  falsehood !  And  none  denieth  the 
same  as  a  falsehood,  except  every  unjust  and  flagitious  per- 
1011:  who,  when  our  signs  are  rehearsed  unto  him,  saith, 


456  AL  KORAN. 

They  are  fablea  of  the  ancients.  By  no  means  :  but  rathei 
their  lusts  have  cast  a  veil  over  their  hearts.  By  no  means. 
Verily  they  shall  be  shut  out  from  their  LORD  on  that  day  ; 
and  they  shall  be  sent  into  hell  to  be  burned :  then  shall  it 
be  said  unto  them  by  the  infernal  guards,  This  is  what  ye 
denied  as  a  falsehood.  Assuredly.  But  the  register  of  the 
actions  of  the  righteous  is  Illiyyun :  and  what  shall  cause 
thee  to  understand  what  Illiyyun  is?1  It  is  a  book  distinctly 
written :  those  who  approach  near  unto  God  are  witnesses 
thereto.  Verily  the  righteous  shall  dwell  among  delights  : 
seated  on  couches  they  shall  behold  objects  of  pleasure  ;  thou 
shall  see  in  their  faces  the  brightness  of  joy.  They  shall  be 
given  to  drink  of  pure  wine,  sealed  ;  the  seal  whereof  shall 
be  musk :  and  to  this  let  those  aspire,  who  aspire  to  happi- 
ness :  and  the  water  mixed  therewith  shall  be  of  Tasnira,  a 
fountain  whereof  those  shall  drink  who  approach  near  unto 
the  divine  presence.  They  who  act  wickedly  laugh  the  true 
believers  to  scorn :  and  when  they  pass  by  them,  they  wink 
at  one  another :  and  when  they  turn  aside  to  their  people, 
they  turn  aside  making  scurrilous  jests  ;  and  when  they  see 
them,  they  say,  Verily  these  are  mistaken  men.  But  they 
are  not  sent  to  be  keepers  over  them.  Wherefore  one  day 
the  true  believers,  in  their  turn,  shall  laugh  the  infidels  to 
scorn :  lying  on  couches  they  shall  look  down  upon  them  in 
hell.  Shall  not  the  infidels  be  rewarded  for  that  which  they 
have  done? 


CHAPTER  LXXXIV. 

WTITLED,  THE  RENDING  IN  SUNDER ;  REVEALED  AT  MECCA. 

IN  THE  NAME  OF  THE  MOST  MEBOIFUL  GOD. 

WHEN  the  heaven  shall  be  rent  in  sunder,  and  shall  obey 
its  LORD,  and  shall  be  capable  thereof;  and  when  the  earth 
shall  be  stretched  out,  and  shall  cast  forth  that  which  it 
therein,  and  shall  remain  empty,  and  shall  obey  its  LORD, 
and  shall  be  capable  thereof:  O  man,  verily  laboring  thou 
laborest  to  meet  thy  LORD,  and  thou  shalt  meet  him.  And 


AL  KORAN.  457 

he  who  shall  have  his  book  given  into  his  right  hand  shall 
be  called  to  an  easy  account,  and  shall  turn  unto  his  family 
with  joy :  but  he  who  shall  have  his  book  given  him  behind 
his  back  shall  invoke  destruction  to  fall  upon  him,  and  he 
shall  be  sent  into  hell  to  be  burned ;  because  he  rejoiced 
insolently  amidst  his  family  on  earth.  Verily  he  thought 
he  should  never  return  unto  God:  yea  verily,  but  his  LORD 
beheld  him.  Wherefore  I  swear  by  the  redness  of  the  sky 
after  sunset,  and  by  the  night,  and  the  animals  which  it 
driveth  together,  and  by  the  moon  when  she  is  in  the  full ; 
ye  shall  surely  be  transferred  successively  from  state  to  state. 
What  aileth  them,  therefore,  that  they  believe  not  the  resur- 
rection ;  and  that,  when  the  Koran  is  read  unto  them,  they 
worship  not  ?  Yea :  the  unbelievers  accuse  the  same  of  im- 
posture* but  GOD  well  knoweth  the  malice  which  they  keep 
hidden  in  their  breasts.  Wherefore  denounce  unto  them  a 
grievous  punishment,  except  those  who  believe  and  do  good 
works :  for  them  is  prepared  a  never-failing  reward. 


CHAPTER    LXXXV. 

THE  CELESTIAL  SIGNS  ;  BEYEALED  AT  MECCA. 

IH   THB    HAMB    OT   THX    MOST    MBBCIFUL  GOD. 

BT  the  heaven  adorned  with  signs  ;  by  the  promised  day 
of  judgment ;  by  the  witness,  and  the  witnessed ;  cursed 
were  the  contrivers  of  the  pit,  of  fire  supplied  with  fuel 
when  they  sat  around  the  same,  and  were  witnesses  of  wha 
they  did  against  the  true  believers,  and  they  afflicted  them 
for  no  other  reason,  but  because  they  believed  in  the  mighty 
the  glorious  GOD,  unto  whom  belongeth  the  kingdom  of 
heaven  and  earth  :  and  GOD  it  witness  of  all  things.1  Verily 
for  those  who  persecute  the  true  believers  of  either  sex,  and 
afterwards  repent  not,  is  prepared  the  torment  of  hell ;  and 
they  shatt  suffer  the  pain  of  burning.  But  for  those  who 
believe,  and  do  that  which  is  right,  are  destined  gardens  be- 
neath which  rivers  flow :  this  shatt  be  great  felicity.  Verily 


458  AL  KORAN. 

the  vengeance  of  thy  LORD  it  severe.  He  createth,  and  h« 
restoreth  to  lift  •  he  it  inclined  to  forgive,  and  gracious ;  th« 
possessor  of  the  glorious  throne,  who  effecteth  that  which  he 
pleaseth.  Hath  not  the  story  of  the  hosts  of  Pharaoh  and 
of  Thamud  reached  thee  ?  Yet  the  unbelievers  cease  not  to 
accuse  the  divine  revelations  of  falsehood :  but  GOD  encom- 
passeth  them  behind,  that  they  cannot  escape.  Verily  that 
which  they  reject  is  a  glorious  Koran  ;  the  original  whereof  it 
written  in  a  table  kept  in  heaven. 


CHAPTER    LXXXVL 

nrrrrLED,  THB  STAR  WHICH  APPEARED  BT  NIGHT;  BB- 

TKALKD   AT   MECCA, 
nr  THB  KAMI  or  THB  HOST  MEKOIFCL  GOD. 

BT  the  heaven,  and  that  which  appeareth  by  night :  but 
what  shall  cause  thee  to  understand  what  that  which  appear- 
eth by  night  it  ?  it  it  the  star  of  piercing  brightness  :  every 
soul  hath  a  guardian  set  over  it.  Let  a  man  consider,  there- 
fore, of  what  he  is  created.  He  is  created  of  seed  poured 
forth,  issuing  from  the  loins,  and  the  breastbones.  Verily 
God  is  able  to  restore  him  to  life,  the  day  whereon  all  secret 
thoughts  and  actions  shall  be  examined  into ;  and  he  shall 
have  no  power  to  defend  himself,  nor  any  protector.  By  the 
heaven  which  returneth  the  rain ;  and  by  the  earth  which 
openeth  to  let  forth  vegetables  and  springs :  verily  this  it  a 
discourse  distinguishing  good  from  evil ;  and  it  it  not  com- 
posed with  lightness.  Verily  the  infidels  are  laying  a  plot  to 
frustrate  my  designs  :  but  I  will  lay  a  plot  for  their  ruin. 
Wherefore,  0  prophet,  bear  with  the  unbelievers :  lot  them 
alone  a  while. 


AL  KORAN.  450 

CHAPTER    LXXXVIL 

DmTLED,   THE    MOST    HIGH  ;   REVEALED   AT   MBCOA. 
IN    THB    HJUKB    OF    THE   HOST   MERCIFUL   OOD 

PRAISE  the  name  of  thy  LORD,  the  most  high ;  who  hatfc 
created,  and  completely  formed  his  creatures :  and  who  de 
termineth  them  to  various  ends,  and  directeth  them  to  attaiv 
the  same ;  and  who  produceth  the  pasture  for  cattle,  anc 
afterwards  rendereth  the  same  dry  stubble  of  a  dusky  hue. 
We  will  enable  thee  to  rehearse  our  revelations ;  and  thou 
shalt  not  forget  any  part  thereof,  except  what  GOD  shall 
please ;  for  he  knoweth  that  which  is  manifest,  and  that  which 
is  hidden.  And  we  will  facilitate  unto  thee  the  most  easy 
way.  Wherefore  admonish  thy  people,  if  thy  admonition  shall 
be  profitable  unto  them.  Whoso  feareth  God,  he  will  be  ad- 
monished :  but  the  most  wretched  unbeliever  will  turn  away 
therefrom ;  who  shall  be  cast  to  be  broiled  in  the  greater  fire 
of  hell,  wherein  he  shall  not  die,  neither  shall  he  live.  Now 
hath  he  attained  felicity,  who  is  purified  by  faith,  and  whc 
remembereth  the  name  of  his  LORD,  and  prayeth.  But  ye 
prefer  this  present  life :  yet  the  life  to  come  it  better,  and 
more  durable.  Verily  this  it  written  in  the  ancient  books, 
the  books  of  Abraham  and  Moses. 


CHAPTER  LXXXVHL 

IirTITLED,   THE    OVERWHELMING ;   REVEALED    AT   HBCCA. 
nr  THB  HA  ME  or  THB  MOST  MERCIFUL  OOD. 

HATH  the  news  of  the  overwhelming  day  of  judgment 
reached  thee  ?  The  countenances  of  some,  on  that  day,  shall 
fo  cast  down ;  laboring  and  toiling :  they  shall  be  cast  into 
scorching  fire  to  be  broiled :  they  shall  be  given  to  drink  of  • 


460  AL  KOBAN. 

boiling  fountain :  they  shall  have  no  food,  but  of  dry  thorns 
and  thistles :  which  shall  not  fatten,  neither  shall  they  satisfy 
hunger.  But  the  countenances  of  others,  on  that  day,  shaft  bt 
joyful ;  well  pleased  with  their  past  endeavor  :  they  shall  be 
placed  in  a  lofty  garden,  wherein  thou  shalt  hear  no  vain  dis- 
course :  therein  shall  be  a  running  fountain ;  therein  shall  be 
raised  beds,  and  goblets  placed  before  them,  and  cushions  laid 
in  order,  and  carpets  ready  spread.  Do  they  not  consider 
the  camels,  how  they  are  created ;  and  the  heaven,  how  it  is 
raised ;  and  the  mountains,  how  they  are  fixed  ;  and  the 
earth,  how  it  is  extended  ?  Wherefore  warn  thy  people  ;  for 
thou  art  a  warner  only  :  thou  art  not  impowered  to  act  witk 
authority  over  them.  But  whoever  shall  turn  back,  and  dis- 
believe, GOD  shall  punish  him  with  the  greater  punishment 
of  the  life  to  come.  Verily  unto  us  shall  they  return :  then 
shall  it  be  our  part  to  bring  them  to  account. 


CHAPTER   LXXXTX. 

nCTITLED,    THE    DAYBREAK  ;    REVEALED    AT    MECCA. 
IX    THE    KAME    OF    THB    HOST    MERCIFUL    GOD. 

BY  the  daybreak,  and  ten  nights  ;  by  that  which  is  double, 
and  that  which  is  single  ;  and  by  the  night  when  it  cometh 
on :  is  there  not  in  this  an  oath  formed  with  understanding  ? 
Hast  thou  not  considered  how  thy  LORD  dealt  with  Ad,  ?A« 
people  of  Irem,  adorned  with  lofty  buildings^the  like  whereof 
hath  not  been  erected  in  the  land  ;  and  with  Thamud,  who 
hewed  the  rocks  in  the  valley  into  houses  ;  and  with  Pharaoh, 
the  contriver  of  the  stakes :  who  had  behaved  insolently  in 
the  earth,  and  multiplied  corruption  therein  ?  Wherefore  thj 
LORD  poured  on  them  various  kinds  of  chastisement :  ft  f 
thy  LORD  is  surely  in  a  watch-tower,  whence  he  observeth 
the  actions  of  men.  Moreover  man,  when  his  LORD  trieth 
him  by  prosperity,  and  honoreth  him,  and  is  bounteous  unto 
him,  saith,  My  LORD  honoreth  me  ;  but  when  he  proveth  him 
iy  afflictions,  and  withholdeth  his  provisions  from  him,  ha 


AL    KORAN,  461 

with,  My  LORD  despiseth  me.  By  no  means :  but  ye  honoi 
not  the  orphan,  neither  do  ye  excite  one  another  to  feed  the 
poor ;  and  ye  devour  the  inheritance  of  the  weak,  with  un- 
distinguishing  greediness,  and  ye  love  riches  with  much  affec- 
tion. By  no  means  should  ye  do  thus.  When  the  earth  shall 
be  minutely  ground  to  dust ;  and  thy  LORD  shall  come,  and 
the  angels  rank  by  rank ;  and  hell,  on  that  day,  shall  be 
brought  nigh :  on  that  day  shall  man  call  to  remembrance  hit 
evil  deeds  ;  but  how  shall  remembrance  avail  him  ?  He  shall 
say,  Would  to  GOD  that  I  had  heretofore  done  good  works  in 
my  lifetime  !  On  that  day  none  shall  punish  with  his  pun- 
ishment;  nor  shall  any  bind  with  his  bonds.  0  thou  soul 
which  art  at  rest,  return  unto  thy  LORD,  well  pleased  with 
thif  reward,  and  well  pleasing  unto  God:  enter  among  my 
servants ;  and  enter  my  pa/adise. 


CHAPTER 

LKTITLKD,    THE    TBBEITOBT  ;   BKTBAL*D    AT    MKOOA. 

IK    THE    NAME    OF    THE    MOST    MBECIFUL   OOD. 

I  SWEAR  by  this  territory,  (and  thou,  0  prophet,  resides! 
in  this  territory,)  and  by  the  begetter,  and  that  which  he  hath 
begotten  ;  verily  we  have  created  man  in  misery.  Doth  he 
think  that  none  shall  prevail  over  him  ?  He  saith,  I  have 
wasted  plenty  of  riches.  Doth  he  think  that  none  seeth  him  ? 
Have  we  not  made  him  two  eyes,  and  a  tongue,  and  two  lips; 
and  shown  him  the  two  highways  of  good  and  evil  ?  Yet  he 
*ttempteth  not  the  cliff.  What  shall  make  thee  to  understand 
what  the  cliff  is  ?  It  is  to  free  the  captive ;  or  to  feed,  in  the 
day  of  famine,  the  orphan  who  is  of  kin,  or  the  poor  man  who 
lieth  on  the  ground.  Whoso  doth  this,  and  is  one  of  those 
who  bslieve,  and  recommend  perseverance  unto  each  other, 
and  recommend  mercy  unto  each  other;  these  shall  be  the 
companions  of  the  right  hand.  But  they  who  shall  disbelieve 
nr  signs  shall  be  the  companions  of  the  left  hand :  abo 
them  shall  be  arched  fire. 


462  AL    KORAN. 

CHAPTER  XCL 

ENTITLED,   THE    SUN;   REVEALED    AT   MECCA. 
IN   THE    NAME    Of   THE   MOST    MERCIFUL    GOD. 

BY  the  Sun,  and  its  rising  brightness  ;  by  the  moon  wheo 
she  followeth  him ;  by  the  day,  when  it  showeth  his  splendor ; 
by  the  night,  when  it  covereth  him  with  darkness ;  by  the 
heaven,  and  him  who  built  it ;  by  the  earth,  and  him  whc 
spread  it  forth  ;  by  the  soul,  and  him  who  completely  formed 
it,  and  inspired  into  the  same  its  faculty  of  distinguishing, 
and  power  of  choosing,  wickedness  and  piety  :  now  is  he  who 
hath  purified  the  same,  happy ;  but  he  who  hath  corrupted  the 
same,  is  miserable.  Thamud  accused  their  prophet  Saleh  of 
imposture,  through  the  excess  of  their  wickedness  :  when  the 
wretch  among  them  was  sent  to  slay  the  camel ;  and  the  apos- 
tle of  GOD  said  unto  them,  Let  alone  the  camel  of  GOD  ;  and 
hinder  not  her  drinking.  But  they  charged  him  with  impos- 
ture ;  and  they  slew  her.  Wherefore  their  LORD  destroyed 
them,  for  their  crime,  and  made  their  punishment  equal  unto 
them  all :  and  he  feareth  not  the  issue  thereof. 


CHAPTER    XCH. 

IWTITLED,   THE    NIGHT;   REVEALED    AT    MECCA. 

IH    THB    NAME    OF   THB   MOST   MERCIFUL    GOD. 

BY  the  night,  when  it  covereth  all  things  with  darkness ; 
by  the  day,  when  it  shineth  forth ;  by  his  who  hath  created 
the  male,  and  the  female :  verily  your  endeavor  is  different. 
Now  whoso  is  obedient,  and  feareth  God,  and  professeth  the 
truth  of  that  faith  which  is  most  excellent ;  unto  him  will  we 
facilitate  the  way  to  happiness :  but  whoso  shall  be  covetous, 
and  shall  be  wholly  taken  up  urith  thi$  world,  and  shall  denj 


AL   KORAN.  461 

the  truth  of  that  which  is  most  excellent ;  unto  him  will  wa 
facilitate  the  way  to  misery ;  and  his  riches  shall  not  profit 
him,  when  he  shall  fall  headlong  into  hell.  Verily  unto  us 
appertaineth  the  direction  of  mankind:  and  ours  is  the  life 
to  come,  and  the  present  life.  Wherefore  I  threaten  you  with 
fire  which  burneth  fiercely,  which  none  shall  enter  to  be 
burned  except  the  most  wretched ;  who  shall  have  disbelieved, 
End  turned  back.  But  he  who  strictly  bewareth  idolatry  and 
rebellion  shall  be  removed  far  from  the  same ;  whogiveth  hU 
substance  in  alms,  and  by  whom  no  benefit  is  bestowed  on 
any,  that  it  may  be  recompensed,  but  who  bestoweth  the  same 
for  the  sake  of  his  LORD,  the  most  High,  and  hereafter  h« 
shall  be  well  satisfied  with  his  reward. 


CHAPTER    XdlL 

IHTITLID,  THB   BRIGHTNESS  ;   RKTKAiBD   AT    MECCA. 
nr  THB  WAJMB  or  THB  MOST  MKKOIFCL  GOD. 

BT  the  brightness  of  the  morning  ;  and  by  the  night,  when 
it  groweth  dark :  thy  LORD  hath  not  forsaken  thee,  neither 
doth  he  hate  thee.  Verily  the  life  to  come  shall  be  better  for 
thee  than  this  present  life :  and  thy  LORD  shall  give  thee  a 
reward  wherewith  thou  shalt  be  well  pleased.  Did  he  not 
find  thee  an  orphan,  and  hath  he  not  taken  care  of  thee  f  And 
di  1  he  not  find  thee  wandering  in  error,  and  hath  he  not 
gaided  thee  into  the  truth  ?  And  did  he  not  find  thee  needy, 
*nd  hath  he  not  enriched  thee  f  Wherefore  oppress  not  the 
orphan :  neither  repulse  the  beggar :  but  declare  the  good- 
Bess  of  thy  LORD. 


464  AL  KORAN. 

CHAPTER  XCIV. 

Of  TITLED,  HAVE  WE   NOT   OPENED  ;   BETE  ALE  D   AT   MECCA 
IK   THE    NAME    OF    THE   MOST   MEKCIl'CL   GOD. 

HAVE  we  not  opened  thy  breast ;  and  eased  thee  of  thy 
burden,  which  galled  thy  back ;  and  raised  thy  reputation 
for  thee  ?  Verily  a  difficulty  shall  be  attended  with  ease 
Verily  a  difficulty  shall  be  attended  with  ease.  When  thou 
shalt  have  .ended  thy  preaching  ;  labor  to  serve  God  in  return 
for  hit  favort ;  and  make  thy  supplication  unto  thy  LORD. 


CHAPTER  XCV. 

nrrrrLED,  THE  no;   WHERE  IT  WAS  REVEALED  is 
DISPUTED. 

W  THE  HAM*  Or  THE  MOST  MEKCITCL  GOD. 

BY  the  fig)  and  the  olive ;  and  by  mount  Sinai,  and  thi* 
territory  of  security ;  verily  we  created  man  of  a  most  excel- 
lent fabric  ;  afterwards  we  rendered  him  the  vilest  of  the 
vile  :  except  those  who  believe,  and  work  righteousness  ;  for 
they  shall  receive  an  endless  reward.  What,  therefore,  shall 
cause  thee  to  deny  the  day  of  judgment  after  thit  ?  Is  not 
GOD  the  most  wise  judge  ? 


CHAPTER  XCVL 

,    CONGEALED    BLOOD  ;     REVEALED    AT    MECCA 
nr  THE  HAMI  or  THE  MOST  MERCIJUL  OOD. 

READ,  in  the  name  of  thy  LOBD,  who  hath  created  aU 
things  ;  who  hath  created  man  of  congealed  blood.     Read, 


AL  KORAN.  465 

oy  thy  most  beneficent  LORD  ;  .who  taught  tho  use  of  the 
pen;  who  teacheth  man  that  which  he  knoweth  not.  As- 
suredly. Verily  man  becometh  insolent,  because  he  seeth 
himself  abound  in  riches.  Verily  unto  thy  LORD  $hatt  bt 
the  return  of  all.  What  thinkest  thou  as  to  him  who  forbid- 
deth  our  servant,  when  he  prayeth  ?  What  thinkest  thou  ; 
if  he  follow  the  right  direction  ;  or  command  piety  ?  What 
thinkest  thou  ;  if  he  accuse  the  divine  revelations  of  falsehood, 
and  turn  his  back  ?  Doth  he  not  know  that  GOD  seeth  ? 
Assuredly.  Verily,  if  he  forbear  not,  we  will  drag  him  by 
the  forelock,  the  lying,  sinful  forelock.  And  let  him  call 
his  council  to  his  assistance:  we  also  will  call  the  infernal 
guards  to  cast  him  into  hell.  Assuredly.  Obey  him  not :  bat 
continue  to  adore  God;  and  draw  nigh  unto  him. 


CHAPTER   XCVTL 

nmTLED,  AL  KADB  ;   WHERK  IT  WAS  REVEALED  n 
DISPUTED. 

IK   THB    NAMB    OF   THB   MOST   MBROIFOL    OOD. 

VERILT  we  sent  down  the  Koran  in  the  night  of  al  Kadr.1 
And  what  shall  make  thee  understand  how  excellent  the  night 
of  al  Kadr  is  ?  The  night  of  al  Kadr  is  better  than  a  thou- 
sand months.  Therein  do  the  angels  descend,  and  the  spirit 
of  Gabriel  also,  by  the  permission  of  their  LORD,  with  hit 
decrees  concerning  every  matter.  It  is  peace  until  the  rising 
of  the  morn. 


CHAPTER  XCVm. 

IHTITLBD,   THB   EVIDENCE ;    WHERE   IT   WA§    REVEALED    II 
DISPUTED. 

IV  THB   VAMB  Or  THB   MOST   MBBOIFOL  OOP. 

THE  unbelievers  among  those  to  whom  the  scriptures  were 
given,  and  among  the  idolaters,  did  not  stagger,  until  the 


466  AL  KORAN. 

clear  evidence  had  come  unto  them :  an  apostle  from  GOD, 
rehearsing  unto  them  pure  books  of  revelations  ;  wherein  are 
contained  right  discourses.  Neither  were  they  unto  whom 
the  scriptures  were  given  divided  among  themselves,  until 
after  the  clear  evidence  had  come  unto  them.  And  they 
were  commanded  no  other  in  the  scriptures  than  to  worship 
GOD,  exhibiting  unto  him  the  pure  religion,  and  being  ortho- 
dox ;  and  to  be  constant  at  prayer,  and  to  give  alms  ;  and  this 
is  the  right  religion.  Verily  those  who  believe  not,  among 
those  who  have  received  the  scriptures,  and  among  the  idola- 
ters, shall  be  cast  into  the  fire  of  hell,  to  remain  therein  for- 
ever. These  are  the  worst  of  creatures.  But  they  who  believe, 
and  do  good  works ;  these  are  the  best  of  creatures  :  their 
reward  with  their  LORD  shall  be  gardens  of  perpetual  abode, 
through  which  rivers  flow ;  they  shall  remain  therein  forever. 
GOD  will  be  well  pleased  in  them ;  and  they  shall  be  well 
pleased  in  him.  This  it  prepared  for  him  who  shall  fear  hia 
LOBD. 


CHAPTER  XCIX. 

XNTITLED,   THE    EARTHQUAKE;    WHERE    IT   WAS    REVEALK* 
18    DISPUTED. 

IN    THE    NAME   OF   THB   MOST    MKKCIFDL    GOD. 

WHEN  the  earth  shall  be  shaken  by  an  earthquake ;  and 
the  earth  shall  cast  forth  her  burdens ;  and  a  man  shall  say 
What  aileth  her  ?  On  that  day  the  earth  shall  declare  hei 
tidings,  for  that  thy  LOBD  will  inspire  her.  On  that  day 
men  shall  go  forward  in  distinct  classes,  that  they  may  be- 
hold their  works  And  whoever  shall  have  wrought  good  of 
the  weight  of  an  ant,  shall  behold  the  same.  And  whoeve. 
shall  have  wrought  evil  of  the  weight  of  an  ant,  shall  tohol 
the  same. 


AL  KORAN.  467 


CHAPTER  C. 

, THE  WAR-HORSES  WHICH  BUN  SWIFTLY:  WHEKB 
IT  WAS  REVEALED  18  DISPUTED. 

llf    THE    NAME    OT    THB    MOST    MERCIFUL    GOD. 

ffr  the  war-horses  which  run  swiftly  to  the  battle,  with  a 
panting  noise ;  and  by  those  which  strike  fire,  by  dashing  their 
hoofs  against  the  stones  ;  and  by  those  which  make  a  sudden 
incursion  on  the  enemy  early  in  the  morning,  and  therein 
raise  the  dust,  and  therein  pasa  through  the  midst  of  the 
adverse  troops :  verily  man  is  ungrateful  unto  his  LORD  ; 
and  he  is  witness  thereof:  and  he  is  immoderate  in  the  love 
of  worldly  good.  Doth  he  not  know,  therefore,  when  that 
which  is  in  the  graves  shall  be  taken  forth,  and  that  which 
it  in  men's  breasts  shall  be  brought  to  light,  that  their  LOUD 
trt'0,  on  that  day,  be  fully  informed  concerning  them  ? 


CHAPTER  CL 

IVTITLED,   THE    STRIKING;    REVEALED   AT    MECCA. 
IX   THB    NAMB    O»   THB   MOST    MBRCITUL   OOD. 

THE  striking!  What  is  the  striking?  And  what  shall 
make  thee  to  understand  how  terrible  the  striking  will  be  1 
On  that  day  men  shall  be  like  moths  scattered  abroad,  and 
the  mountains  shall  become  like  carded  wool  of  various  col- 
ors driven  by  the  wind.  Moreover  he  whose  balance  shall 
be  heavy  with  good  works,  shall  lead  a  pleasing  life  :  but  as 
to  him  whose  balance  shall  be  light,  his  dwelling  shall  be  th« 
pit  of  hell.  What  shall  make  thee  to  understand  how  fright 
ful  the  pit  of  hell  is?  It  is  A  burning  fire. 


468  AL  KORAN. 


CHAPTER   CII. 

,  THE  EMULOUS  DESIRE  OF  MULTIPLYING; 
IT  WAS  REVEALED  IS  DISPUTED. 

IN    THE    NAMB    OF    THE    HOST    HBBCIFUL    GOD. 

THI  emulous  desire  of  multiplying  riches  and  children 
employeth  you,  until  ye  visit  the  graves.  By  no  means 
should  ye  thus  employ  your  time:  hereafter  shall  ye  know 
your  folly.  Again,  By  no  means :  hereafter  shall  ye  know 
your  folly.  By  no  means:  if  ye  knew  the  consequence  hereof 
with  certainty  of  knowledge,  ye  would  not  act  thus.  Verily 
ye  shall  see  hell :  again,  ye  shall  surely  see  it  with  the  eye 
of  certainty.  Then  shall  ye  be  examined,  on  that  day,  con- 
cerning the  pleasures  with  which  ye  have  amused  yourselves 
in  this  life. 


CHAPTER    CHI. 

,  THE  AFTERNOON;  REVEALED  AT  MECCA. 

IN    THE    NAME    OF    THE    HOST    MERCIFUL    GOD. 

BY  the  afternoon  ;  verily  man  employeth  himself  in  thai 
which  will  prove  of  loss  :  except  those  who  believe,  and  do 
that  which  is  right ;  and  who  mutually  recommend  the  truth. 
\nd  mutually  recommend  perseverance  unto  each  other. 


CHAPTER   CIV. 

TKTITLED,   THE    SLANDERER;    REVEALED    AT    MECCA. 
IN   THE   NAHB   Or   THE    HOST    MERCIFUL   GOD. 

WOE  unto  every  slanderer,  and  backbiter :  who  heapeth 
op  riches,  and  prepareth  the  s&mefor  the  time  to  comet    He 


AL  KORAN.  469 

tbinketb  that  his  riches  will  render  him  immortal.  By  no 
means.  He  shall  surely  be  cast  into  Al  Hotama.  And  who 
shall  cause  thee  to  understand  what  Al  Hotama  it  ?  It  is  th* 
kindled  fire  of  GOD  ;  which  shall  mount  above  the  hearts  of 
those  who  shall  be  cast  therein.  Verily  it  shall  be  as  an  arched 
vault  above  them  on  columns  of  vast  extent. 


CHAPTER  CV. 

IKTITLED,    THE    ELEPHANT  ;    REVEALED    AT    MECCA. 
IV   THB    HAMB    OF   THE   MOST    MERCIFUL   GOD. 

HAST  thou  not  seen  how  thy  LORD  dealt  with  the  masters 
of  the  elephant?1  Did  he  not  make  their  treacherous  design 
an  occasion  of  drawing  them  into  error;  and  send  against 
them  flocks  of  birds,  which  cast  down  upon  them  stones  of 
baked  clay ;  and  render  them  like  the  leaves  of  corn  eateo 
by  cattle  ? 


CHAPTER   CVL 

OTTITLED,    KOBEI8H  ;    KEVEALED    AT   MECCA. 
IN    THB   KAKB   OT   THB   MOIT    MBBOITOL   ODD. 

FOE  the  uniting  of  the  tribe  of  Koreish ;  their  uniting  in 
tending  forth  the  caravan  of  merchants  and  purveyors  in 
winter  and  summer;  let  them  serve  the  LORD  of  this  house  ; 
who  supplieth  them  with  food  against  hunger,  and  hath 
rendered  them  secure  from  fear. 


•170  AL  KORAN. 


CHAPTER   CTIL 

»  TITLED,   NECESSARIES  ;    WHERE    IT    WAS    REVEALED    U 
DISPUTED. 

IK    THE    KAME    OF   THE    MOST    MBHCIFUL    GOD. 

WHAT  thinkest  thou  of  him  who  denieth  the  future  judg 
ment  as  a  falsehood?  It  is  he  who  pusheth  away  the  orphan; 
and  stirreth  not  up  others  to  feed  the  poor.  Woe  be  unto 
those  who  pray,  and  who  are  negligent  at  their  prayer :  who 
play  the  hypocrites,  and  deny  necessaries  to  the  needy. 


CHAPTER   CVILL 

ENTITLED,   AL    OAWTHAR ;   REVEALED   AT   MECCA. 
IN    THB    NAME    OV    THB   HOST   MBBCIFUL   GOD. 

VERILT  we  have  given  thee  al  Cawthar.  Wherefore  pray 
unto  thy  LORD,  and  slay  the  victim*.  Verily  he  who  hateth 
thee  shall  be  childless. 


CHAPTER   CDL 

QfTITLED,   THE    UNBELIEVERS  ;    REVEALED    AT    MECCA, 
IH    THB    NAME    OF   THB   HOST   MBBCIFUL   OOD. 

SAT  :  O  unbeh'evers,  I  will  not  worship  that  which  y« 
worship ;  nor  will  ye  worship  that  which  I  worship.  Neither 
do  I  worship  that  which  ye  worship ;  neither  do  ye  worship 
that  which  I  worship.  Ye  have  your  religion,  and  I  my 
religion. 


AL  KOBAN.  47] 

CHAPTER  CX. 

ZNT1TLED,   ASSISTANCE;    REVEALED    AT    MECCA. 
»   THE    If  AM  K    Or   THB    MOST    MBECIFUL   GOD. 

WHEN  the  assistance  of  GOD  shall  come,  and  the  victory 
and  thou  shalt  see  the  people  enter  into  the  religion  of  Goo 
by  troops :  celebrate  the  praise  of  thy  LORD,  and  ask  par- 
don of  him ;  for  he  is  inclined  to  forgive. 


CHAPTER  CXL 
nrrrrLKD,  ABU  LAHEB  ;  REVEALED  AT  MECCA. 

II*  THB  1»  AMB  OV  THB  MOST  MERCIFUL  GOD. 

THE  hands  of  Abu  Laheb  shall  perish,  and  he  shall  per- 
ish. His  riches  shall  not  profit  him,  neither  that  which  he 
hath  gained.  He  shall  go  down  to  be  burned  into  flaming 
fire ;  and  his  wife  alto,  bearing  wood,  having  on  her  neck  • 
cord  of  twisted  fibres  of  a  palm-tree. 


CHAPTER  CXIL 

ENTITLED,    THE    DECLARATION    OF    QOD's    UNITT  ;    WHERE 
IT    WAS    REVEALED   18   DISPUTED. 

IN    THB   HAMS   OF   THB   MOST    MBRCIFCL   GOD. 

SAT,  God  is  one  GOD  ;  the  eternal  GOD  :  he  begettetb 
cot,  neither  is  he  begotten :  and  there  ia  not  any  one  like 
unto  him. 


472  AL  KORAN. 


CHAPTER   CXI!!. 

ENTITLED,   THE    DAYBREAK  ;     WHERE   IT    WAS    REVKALKD 

IS    DISPUTED. 

IH    THE    NAME    Of    THE    HOST    MERCIFUL    GOD. 

SAT,  I  fly  for  refuge  unto  the  LORD  of  the  daybreak,  thai 
k*  may  deliver  me  from  the  mischief  of  those  things  which  h« 
hath  created ;  and  from  the  mischief  of  the  night,  when  it 
cometh  on ;  and  from  the  mischief  of  women  blowing  ou 
knots ;  and  from  the  mischief  of  the  envious,  when  he  en- 
vieth. 


CHAPTER  CXIV. 

IHTITLED,  MEN ;   WHERE    IT   WAS    RETEALED    IS    DISPUTED. 
HI    THE    NAMB   OF   THE    MOST    MERCIFUL   GOD. 

SAT,  I  fly  for  refuge  unto  the  LORD  of  men,  the  king  of 
men,  the  GOD  of  men,  that  he  may  deliver  me  from  the  mis- 
chief of  the  whisperer  who  slyly  withdraweth,  who  whisper- 
eth  evil  suggestions  into  the  breast*  of  men ;  from  genii  and 
men 


APPENDIX. 


NOTES. 

Page  58:  (1).  In  this  passage,  Mohammed  compares  those  who 
believed  not  on  him,  to  a  man  who  wants  to  kindle  a  fire,  but  as 
soon  as  it  burns  up,  and  the  flames  give  a  light,  shuts  his  eyes, 
lest  he  should  see.  As  if  he  had  said,  "You,  O  Arabians,  have 
long  desired  a  prophet  of  your  own  nation,  and  now  I  am  sent 
unto  you,  and  have  plainly  proved  my  mission  by  the  excellence 
of  my  doctrine  and  revelation,  you  resist  conviction,  and  refuse  to 
believe  in  me;  therefore  shall  God  leave  you  in  your  ignorance." 

Page  59:  (1).  Here  he  compares  the  unbelieving  Arabs  to  peo- 
ple caught  in  a  violent  storm.  To  perceive  the  beauty  of  this 
comparison,  it  must  be  observed,  tbat  the  Mohammedan  doctors 
say,  this  tempest  is  a  type  or  image  of  the  Koran  itself:  the 
thunder  signifying  the  threats  therein  contained;  the  lightning, 
the  promises;  and  the  darkness,  the  mysteries.  The  terror  of  the 
threats  makes  them  stop  their  ears,  unwilling  to  hear  truths  so 
disagreeable;  when  the  promises  are  read  to  them,  they  attend 
with  pleasure;  but  when  anything  mysterious  or  difficult  of  belief 
occurs,  they  stand  stock  still,  and  will  not  submit  to  be  directed. 

(2).  Concerning  the  creation  of  Adam,  here  intimated,  the 
Mohammedans  have  several  peculiar  traditions.  They  say  the 
angels,  Gabriel,  Michael,  and  Isratil,  were  sent  by  God,  one  after 
another,  to  fetch  for  that  purpose  seven  handfuls  of  earth  from 
different  depths,  and  of  different  colors  (whence  some  account  for 
the  various  complexion  of  mankind);  but  the  earth  being  appre- 
hensive of  the  consequence,  and  desiring  them  to  represent  her 
fear  to  God  that  the  creature  he  designed  to  form  would  rebel 
against  him,  and  draw  down  his  curse  upon  her,  they  returned 
without  performing  God's  command;  whereupon  he  sent  Azra'il  on 
the  same  errand,  who  executed  his  commission  without  remorse, 
for  which  reason  God  appointed  that  angel  to  separate  the  souls 
from  the  bodies,  being  therefore  called  ttu:  angel  of  death.  The 
earth  he  had  taken  was  carried  into  Arabia,  to  a  place  between 
Mecca  and  Tayef,  where,  being  first  kneaded  by  the  angels,  it  was 
afterward  fashioned  by  God  himself  into  a  human  form,  and  left 
to  dry  for  the  space  of  forty  days,  or,  as  others  say,  as  many 
years,  the  angels  in  the  meantime  often  visiting  it,  and  Kl>lis 
(then  one  of  the  angels  who  are  nearest  to  God's  presence,  after- 
ward the  devil)  among  the  rest:  '»ut  !»••  n°t  Contented  with  looking 


474  APPENDIX. 

on  ft,  kicked  it  with  his  foot  till  it  rung  and  knowing  God  de. 
signed  that  creature  to  be  his  superior,  took  a  secret  resolution 
never  to  acknowledge  him  as  such.  After  this,  God  animated  the 
figure  of  clay  and  endued  it  with  an  intelligent  soul,  and  when  he 
had  placed  him  in  paradise,  formed  Eve  out  of  his  left  side. 

Page  60:  (1).  This  story  Mohammed  borrowed  from  the  Jewish 
traditions,  which  say  that  the  angels  having  spoken  of  man  with 
some  contempt  when  God  consulted  them  about  his  creation,  God 
made  answer  that  the  man  was  wiser  than  they;  and  to  convince 
them  of  it,  he  brought  all  kinds  of  animals  to  them,  and  asked 
them  their  names;  which  they  not  being  able  to  tell,  he  put  the 
same  question  to  the  man,  who  named  them  one  after  another; 
and  being  asked  his  own  name  and  God's  name,  he  answered  very 
justly,  and  gave  God  the  name  of  Jehovah.  The  angels'  adoring 
of  Adam  is  also  mentioned  in  the  Talmud. 

(2).  The  Mohammedans  say  that  when  they  were  cast  down 
from  paradise,  Adam  fell  on  the  isle  of  Ceylon  or  Serendib,  and 
Eve  near  Joddah  (the  port  of  Mecca)  in  Arabia;  and  that  after  a 
separation  of  200  years,  Adam  was,  on  his  repentance,  conducted 
by  the  angel  Gabriel  to  a  mountain  near  Mecca,  where  he  found 
and  knew  his  wife,  the  mountain  being  thence  named  Arafat; 
and  that  he  afterward  retired  with  her  to  Ceylon,  where  they 
continued  to  propagate  their  species.  It  may  not  be  improper 
here  to  mention  another  tradition  concerning  the  gigantic 
stature  of  our  first  parents.  Their  prophet,  they  say,  affirmed 
Adam  to  have  been  as  tall  as  a  high  palm-tree;  but  this 
would  be  too  much  in  proportion,  if  that  were  really  the  print 
of  his  foot,  which  is  pretended  to  be  such,  on  the  top  of  a 
mountain  in  the  isle  of  Ceylon,  thence  named  Pico  de  Adam,  and 
by  the  Arab  writers  Rahun,  being  somewhat  above  two  spans 
long  (though  others  say  it  is  70  cubits  long,  and  that  when  Adam 
set  one  foot  here,  he  had  the  other  in  the  sea);  and  too  little,  if 
Eve  were  of  so  enormous  a  size,  as  is  said,  when  her  head  lay  on 
one  hill  near  Mecca,  her  knees  rested  on  two  others  in  the  plain, 
about  two  musket-shots  asunder. 

Page  61:  (1).  The  commentators  say  this  was  a  stone  which 
Moses  brought  from  Mount  Sinai,  and  the  same  that  fled  away 
with  his  garments  which  he  laid  upon  it  one  day  while  he 
washed;  they  add  that  Moses  ran  after  the  stone  naked,  till  he 
found  himself,  ere  he  was  aware,  in  the  midst  of  the  people,  who, 
on  this  accident,  were  convinced  of  the  falsehood  of  a  report 
which  had  been  raised  of  their  prophet,  that  he  was  bursten,  or, 
as  others  write,  an  hermaphrodite.  They  describe  it  to  be  a 
square  piece  of  white  marble,  shaped  like  a  man's  head; 
wherein  they  differ  not  much  from  the  accounts  of  European 
travelers,  who  say  this  rock  stands  among  several  lesser 
ones,  about  one  hundred  paces  from  Mount  Horeb,  and 
appears  to  have  been  loosened  from  the  neighboring  moun- 
tains, having  no  coherence  with  the  others;  that  it  is  a  huge  mass 
of  red  granite,  almost  round  on  one  side,  and  flat  on  the  other, 


APPENDIX.  475 

twelve  feet  high  and  as  many  thick,  but  broader  than  it  is  high, 
and  about  fifty  feet  in  circumference. 

Page  62:  (1).  The  story  to  which  this  passage  refers,  is  as  fol- 
lows: In  the  days  of  David  some  Israelites  dwelt  at  Ailah,  or 
Elath,  on  the  Red  Sea,  where  on  the  night  of  the  Sabbath  the  fish 
used  to  come  in  great  numbers  to  the  shore,  and  stay  there  all  tht 
Sabbath,  to  tempt  them;  but  the  night  following  they  returned 
into  the  sea  again.  At  length  some  of  the  inhabitants,  neglecting 
God's  command,  catched  fish  on  the  Sabbath,  and  dressed  and  ate 
them;  and  afterward  cut  canals  from  the  sea,  for  the  fish  to 
enter,  with  sluices,  which  they  shut  on  the  Sabbath,  to  prevent 
their  return  to  the  sea.  The  other  part  of  the  inhabitants,  whc 
strictly  observed  the  Sabbath,  used  both  persuasion  and  force  to 
stop  this  impiety,  but  to  no  purpose,  the  offenders  growing  only 
more  and  more  obstinate;  whereupon  David  cursed  the  Sabbath- 
breakers,  and  God  transformed  them  into  apes.  It  is  said  that 
one  going  to  see  a  friend  of  his  that  was  among  them,  found  him 
in  the  shape  of  an  ape,  moving  his  eyes  about  wildly;  and  asking 
him  whether  he  was  not  such  a  one,  the  ape  made  a  sign  with  his 
head  that  it  was  he;  whereupon  the  friend  said  to  him,  "  Did  I 
not  advise  you  to  desist  ?"  at  which  the  ape  wept.  They  add  that 
these  unhappy  people  remained  three  days  in  this  condition,  and 
were  afterward  destroyed  by  a  wind  which  swept  them  all  into 
the  sea. 

(2).  The  occasion  of  this  sacrifice  is  thus  related.  A  certain 
man  at  his  death  left  his  son,  then  a  child,  a  cow-calf,  which 
wandered  in  the  desert  till  he  came  to  age;  at  which  time 
his  mother  told  him  the  heifer  was  his,  and  bid  him  fetch  her, 
and  sell  her  for  three  pieces  of  gold.  When  the  young  man  came 
to  the  market  with  his  heifer,  an  angel  in  the  shape  of  a  man  ac- 
costed him,  and  bid  him  six  pieces  of  gold  for  her;  but  he  would 
not  take  the  money  till  he  had  asked  his  mother's  consent;  which 
when  he  had  obtained,  be  returned  to  the  market-place,  and  met 
the  angel,  who  now  offered  him  twice  as  much  for  the  heifer, 
provided  he  would  say  nothing  of  it  to  his  mother;  but  the  young 
man  refusing,  went  and  acquainted  her  with  the  additional  offer. 
The  woman  perceiving  it  was  an  angel,  bid  her  son  go  back  and 
ask  him  what  must  be  done  with  the  heifer;  whereupon  the  ang<-! 
told  the  young  man  that  in  a  little  time  the  children  of  Israel 
would  buy  that  heifer  of  him  at  any  price.  And  soon  after 
happened  that  an  Israelite,  named  Ilammiel,  was  killed  by  a  rela- 
tion of  his,  who,  to  prevent  discovery,  conveyed  the  body  to  a 
place  considerably  distant  from  that  where  the  fact  was  coranut_ 
ted  The  friends  of  the  slain  man  accused  some  other  persons 
the  murder  before  Moses;  but  they  denying  the  fact,  and  then- 


IMUCi       Wim-I-I        «110»»^A^»A      '  ^m.jJ--.'  -f  1  1     •  J  1      , 

they  were  obliged  to  buy  her  for  as  much  gold  as  her  hide  wnuUl 
hold;  according  to  some,  for  her  full  weight  in  gold,  and  as  r 


476  APPENDIX, 

say,  for  ten  times  as  much.  This  heifer  they  sacrificed,  and  the 
dead  body  being,  by  divine  direction,  struck  with  a  part  of  it,  re- 
vived, and  standing  up,  named  the  person  who  had  killed  him; 
after  which  it  immediately  fell  down  dead  again.  The  whole 
story  seems  to  be  borrowed  from  the  red  heifer,  which  was 
ordered  by  the  Jewish  law  to  be  burnt,  and  the  ashes  kept  for 
purifying  those  who  happened  to  touch  a  dead  corpse;  and  from 
the  heifer  directed  to  be  slain  for  the  expiation  of  an  uncertain 
murder.  See  Deut.  xxi.  1-9. 

Page  69:  (1).  At  first,  Mohammed  and  his  followers  observed 
no  particular  rite  in  turning  their  faces  toward  any  certain  place> 
or  quarter  of  the  world,  when  they  prayed;  it  being  declared  to 
be  perfectly  indifferent.  Afterward,  when  the  prophet  fled  to 
Medina,  he  directed  them  to  turn  toward  the  temple  of  Jerusalem 
(probably  to  ingratiate  himself  with  the  Jews),  which  continued 
to  be  their  Keblah  for  six  or  seven  months;  but  either  finding  the 
Jews  too  intractable,  or  despairing  otherwise  to  gain  the  pagan 
Arabs,  who  could  not  forget  their  respect  to  the  temple  of  Mecca, 
he  ordered  that  prayers  for  the  future  should  be  toward  the  last. 
This  change  was  made  in  the  second  year  of  the  Hejra,  and  oc- 
casioned many  to  fall  from  him,  taking  offense  at  his  incon- 
stancy. 

Page  70:  (1).  Safa  and  Merwa  are  two  mountains  near  Mecca, 
whereon  were  anciently  two  idols,  to  which  the  pagan  Arabs  used 
to  pay  a  superstitious  veneration.  Jallalo'ddin  says  this  passage 
was  revealed  because  the  followers  of  Mohammed  made  a  scruple 
of  going  round  these  mountains,  as  the  idolaters  did.  But  the 
true  reason  of  his  allowing  this  relic  of  ancient  superstition  seems 
to  be  the  difficulty  he  found  in  preventing  it.  Abul  Kasem  Heb- 
ato'llah  thinks  these  last  words  are  abrogated  by  those  other, 
TV/40  will  reject  the  religion  of  Abraham,  except  he  who  Jmth  infat- 
uated Ids  soul?  So  that  he  will  have  the  meaning  to  be  quite 
contrary  to  the  letter,  as.  if  it  had  been,  it  shall  be  no  crime  in  him 
if  he  do  not  compass  them.  However,  the  expositors  are  all 
against  him,  and  the  ceremony  of  running  between  these  two  hills 
is  still  observed  at  the 'pilgrimage. 

Page  73:  (1).  Some  of  the  Arabs  had  a  superstitious  custom 
after  they  had  been  at  Mecca  (in  pilgrimage,  as  it  seems),  on  their 
return  home,  not  to  enter  their  house  by  the  old  door,  but  to  mahe 
a  hole  through  the  back  part  for  a  passage,  which  practice  is  here 
reprehended. 

Page  74:  (1).  In  Arabic,  al  Masher  al  hardm.  It  is  a  mountain 
in  the  farther  part  of  Mozdalifa,  where  it  is  said  Mohammed  stood 
praying  and  praising  (Jod,  till  his  face  became  extremely  shining. 
Bobovious  calls  it  Farkh,  but  the  true  name  seems  to  be  Kazah; 
the  variation  being  occasioned  only  by  the  different  pointing  of 
the  Arabic  letters. 

Page  80:  (1).  These  were  some  of  the  children  of  Israel,  whc 
abandoned  their  dwellings  because  of  a  pestilence,  or,  as  others 


APPENDIX.  477 

say,  to  avoid  serving  in  a  religious  war;  but,  as  they  fled,  God 
struck  them  an  dead  in  a  certain  valley.  About  eight  days  or 
more  after,  when  their  bodies  were  corrupted,  the  prophet 
Bzekiel.  the  son  of  Buzi,  happening  to  pass  that  way,  at  the  sight 
of  their  bones  wept;  whereupon  God  said  to  him,  Call  to  them,  0 
Ezekiel,  and  I  will  restore  them  to  life.  And  accordingly  on  the 
prophet's  call  they  all  arose,  and  lived  several  years  after;  but 
they  retained  the  color  and  stench  of  dead  corpses  as  long  as  they 
lived,  and  the  clothes  they  wore  changed  as  black  as  pitch,  which 
qualities  they  transmitted  to  their  posterity.  As  to  the  cumber 
of  these  Israelites  the  commentators  are  not  agreed;  they  who 
reckon  least  say  they  were  3,000,  and  they  who  reckon  most, 
70,000.  This  story  seemp  to  have  been  taken  from  Ezekiel's  vision 
of  the  resurrection  of  dry  bones. 

(2).  This  ark,  says  Jallalo'ddin,  contained  the  images  of  the 
prophets,  and  was  sent  down  from  heaven  to  Adam,  and  at  length 
came  to  the  Israelites,  who  put  great  confidence  therein,  and  con- 
tinually carried  it  in  the  front  of  their  army,  till  it  was  taken  by 
the  Amalekites.  But  on  this  occasion  the  angels  brought  it  back, 
in  the  sight  of  all  the  people,  and  placed  it  at  the  feet  of  Talut; 
who  was  thereupon  unanimously  acknowledged  for  their  king. 
This  relation  seems  to  have  arisen  from  some  imperfect  tradition 
of  the  taking  and  sending  back  the  ark  by  the  Philistines. 

Page  81:  (1).  This  throne,  in  Arabic  called  Corsi,  is  by  the 
Mohammedans  supposed  to  be  God's  tribunal,  or  seat  of  justice; 
being  placed  under  that  other  called  al  Arsh,  which  they  say  is 
his  imperial  throne.  The  Corsi  allegorically  signifies  the  divine 
providence,  which  sustains  and  governs  the  heaven  and  the  earth, 
and  is  infinitely  above  human  comprehension. 

Page  82:  (1).  The  person  here  meant  was  Ozair  or  Ezra,  who 
riding  on  an  ass  by  the  ruins  of  Jerusalem  after  it  had  been  de- 
stroyed by  the  Chaldeans,  doubted  in  his  mind  by  what  means  God 
could  raise  the  city  and  its  inhabitants  again;  whereupon  God 
caused  him  to  die,  and  he  remained  in  that  condition  one  hundred 
years;  at  the  end  of  which  God  restored  him  to  life,  and  he  found 
a  basket  of  figs  and  a  cruse  of  wine  he  had  with  him  not  in  the 
least  spoiled  or  corrupted;  but  his  ass  was  dead,  the  bones  only 
remaining,  and  these,  while  the  prophet  looked  on,  were  raised 
and  clothed  with  flesh,  becoming  an  ass  again,  which  being  in 
spired  with  life,  began  immediately  to  bray. 

(2).  These  birds,  according  to  the  commentators,  were  an  eagle 
(a  dove,  say  others),  a  peacock,  a  raven  and  a  cock,  which  Abraham 
cut  to  pieces,  and  mingled  their  flesh  and  feathers  tog-ether,  or, 
as  some  tell  us,  pounded  all  in  a  mortar,  and  dividing  the  mass 
into  four  parts,  laid  them  on  so  many  mountains,  but  kept  the 
heads,  which  he  had  preserved  whole,  in  his  hand.  Then  he 
called  them  each  by  their  name,  and  immediately  one  part  flew  to 
the  ofrher,  till  they  all  recovered  their  first  shape,  and  then  came 
to  be  joined  to  their  respective  heads. 


APPENDIX. 

Page  87:  (1).  The  sign  or  miracle  here  meant,  was  the  victory 
gained  by  Mohammed  in  the  second  year  of  the  Hejra,  over  the 
idolatrous  Meccans,  headed  by  Abu  Sofian,  in  the  valley  of  Bedr, 
which  is  situate  near  the  sea,  between  Mecca  and  Medina. 
Mohammed's  forces  consisted  of  no  more  than  three  hundred  and 
nineteen  men,  but  the  enemy's  army  of  near  a  thousand,  notwith- 
standing which  odds  ke  put  them  to  night,  having  killed  seventy 
of  the  principal  Koreish,  and  taken  as  many  prisoners,  with  the 
loss  of  only  fourteen  of  his  own  men.  This  was  the  first  victory 
obtained  by  the  prophet,  and  though  it  may  seem  no  very  con- 
siderable action,  yet  it  was  of  great  advantage  to  him,  and  the 
foundation  of  all  his  future  power  and  success.  For  which  reason 
it  is  famous  in  the  Arabian  history,  and  more  than  once  vaunted 
in  the  Koran,  as  an  effect  of  the  divine  assistance.  The  miracle, 
it  is  said,  consisted  in  three  things:  1.  Mohammed,  by  the  direc- 
tion of  the  angel  Gabriel,  took  a  handful  of  gravel  and  threw  it 
toward  the  enemy  in  the  attack,  saying,  May  their  faces  be  con- 
founded; whereupon  they  immediately  turned  their  backs  and 
fled.  But  though  the  prophet  seemingly  threw  the  gravel  him. 
self,  yet  it  is  told  in  the  Koran,  that  it  was  not  he,  but  God,  who 
threw  it,  that  is  to  say,  by  the  ministry  of  his  angel.  2.  The 
Mohammedan  troops  seemed  to  the  infidels  to  be  twice  as  many  in 
number  as  themselves,  which  greatly  discouraged  them.  3. 
God  sent  down  to  their  assistance  first  a  thousand  and  afterward 
three  thousand  angels,  led  by  Gabriel,  mounted  on  his  horse 
Haizurn;  and,  according  to  the  Koran,  these  celestial  auxiliaries 
really  did  all  the  execution,  though  Mohammed's  men  imagined 
themselves  did  it,  and  fought  stoutly  at  the  same  time. 

Page  88:  (1).  This  expression  alludes  to  a  tradition,  that 
Abraham,  when  the  devil  tempted  him  to  disobey  God  in  not 
sacrificing  his  son,  drove  the  fiend  away  by  throwing  stones  at 
him;  in  memory  of  which,  the  Mohammedans,  at  the  pilgrimage 
of  Mecca,  throw  a  certain  number  of  stones  at  the  devil,  with 
certain  ceremonies,  in  the  valley  of  Mina.  It  is  not  im- 
probable that  the  pretended  immaculate  conception  of  the 
Virgin  Mary  is  intimated  in  this  passage;  for  according  to  a 
tradition  of  Mohammed,  every  person  that  comes  into  the  world 
is  touched  at  his  birth  by  the  devil,  and  therefore  cries  out:  Mary 
and  her  son  only  excepted,  between  whom  and  the  evil  spirit  God 
placed  a  veil,  so  that  his  touch  did  not  reach  them.  And  for  this 
reason,  they  say,  neither  of  them  were  guilty  of  any  sin,  like  the 
rest  of  the  children  of  Adam:  which  peculiar  grace  they  obtained 
by  virtue  of  this  recommendation  of  them  by  Hannah  to  God's 
protection. 

Page  89:  (1).  Besides  an  instance  of  this  given  in  the  Koran 
itself,  which  I  shall  not  here  anticipate,  a  Mohammedan  writer, 
(of  no  very  great  credit,  indeed)  tells  two  stories,  one  of  Jesus' 
speaking  while  in  his  mother's  womb,  to  reprove  her  cousin  Joseph 
for  his  unjust  suspicions  of  her;  and  another  of  his  giving  an 
answer  to  the  same  person  soon  after  he  was  born.  For  Joseph 


APPENDIX.  479 

being  sent  by  Zacharias  to  seek  Mary  (who  had  gone  out  of  the 
city  by  night  to  conceal  her  delivery)  and  having  found  her  began 
to  expostulate  with  her,  but  she  made  no  reply;  whereupon  the 
child  spoke  these  words:  Rejoice,  O  Joseph,  arid  be  of  good  cheer; 
for  God  hath  brought  me  forth  from  the  darkness  of  the  womb,  to 
the  light  of  the  world;  and  I  shall  go  to  the  children  of  Israel,  and 
inmte  them  to  the  obedience  of  God.  These  seem  all  to  have 
been  taken  from  some  fabulous  traditions  of  the  eastern 
Christians,  one  of  which  is  preserved  to  us  in  the  spurious 
gospel  of  the  Infancy  of  Christ;  where  we  read  that  Jesus 
spoke  while  yet  in  the  cradle,  and  said  to  his  mother, 
Verily  I  am  Jesus  the  Son  of  God,  the  word  which  th&u  hast  brought 
forth,  as  the  angel  Gabriel  did  declare  unto  thee;  and  my  father 
hath  sent  me  to  save  the  world. 

Page  90:  (1).  Jallalo'ddin  mentions  three  persons  whom  Christ 
restored  to  life,  and  who  lived  several  years  after,  and  had  chil- 
dren; viz.,  Lazarus,  the  widow's  son,  and  the  publican's  (I  suppose 
he  means  the  ruler  of  the  synagogue's)  daughter.  He  adds  that 
he  also  raised  Shem  the  son  of  Noah,  who,  as  another  writes 
thinking  he  had  been  called  to  judgment,  came  out  of  his  grave 
with  his  head  half  gray,  whereas  men  did  not  grow  gray  in  his 
days;  after  which  he  immediately  died  again. 

(2).  This  stratagem  of  God's  was  the  taking  of  Jesus  up  into 
heaven,  and  stamping  his  likeness  on  another  person,  who  was 
apprehended  and  crucified  in  his  stead.  For  it  is  the  constant 
doctrine  of  the  Mohammedans  that  it  was  not  Jesus  himself  who 
underwent  that  ignominious  death,  but  somebody  else  in  his  shape 
and  resemblance.  The  person  crucified  some  will  have  to  be  a 
spy  that  was  sent  to  entrap  him;  others,  that  it  was  one  Titian, 
who  by  the  direction  of  Judas  entered  in  at  a  window  of  the  house 
where  Jesus  was,  to  kill  him;  and  others  that  it  was  Judas  him. 
self,  who  agreed  with  the  rulers  of  the  Jews  to  betray  him  for 
thirty  pieces  of  silver,  and  led  those  who  were  sent  to  take  him. 
They  add,  that  Jesus  after  his  crucifixion  in  effigy,  was  sent 
down  again  to  the  earth,  to  comfort  his  mother  arid  disciples  and 
acquaint  them  how  the  Jews  were  deceived;  and  was  then 
taken  up  a  second  time  into  heaven.  It  is  supposed  by 
several  that  this  story  was  an  original  invention  of  Moham. 
med's;  but  they  are  certainly  mistaken;  for  several  sectaries 
held  the  same  opinion,  long  before  his  time.  The  Basil  i- 
dians,  in  the  very  beginning  of  Christianity,  denied  that  Christ 
himself  suffered,  but  that  Simon  the  Cyrenean  was  crucified  in  his 
place.  The  Corinthians  before  them,  and  the  Carpocratians  next 
(to  name  no  more  of  those  who  affirmed  Jesus  to  have  been  a  mere 
man),  did  believe  the  same  thing;  that  it  was  not  himself,  but  one 
of  his  followers  very  like  him  that  was  crucified.  PbotiuB  tells 
us,  that  he  read  a  book  entitled,  "  The  Journeys  of  the  Apostles," 
relating  the  acts  of  Peter,  John,  Andrew,  Thomas  and  Paul;  and 
among  other  things  contained  therein,  this  was  one,  that  C/tritt, 
was  not  crucified,  but  another  in  his  stead,  and  that  therefore 


480  APPENDIX. 

Tie  laughed,  at  Jiis  crucifiers,  or  those  who  thought  they  had 
crucified  him.  I  have  in  another  place  mentioned  an  apocry- 
phal gospel  of  Barnabas,  a  forgery  originally  of  some  nominal 
Christians,  but  interpolated  since-  by  Mohammedans;  which 
gives  this  part  of  the  history  of  Jesus  with  circumstances  too 
curious  to  be  omitted.  It  is  therein  related,  that  the  moment 
the  Jews  were  going  to  apprehend  Jesus  in  the  garden,  he  was 
snatched  up  into  the  third  heaven  by  the  ministry  of  four  angels, 
Gabriel,  Michael,  Raphael  and  Uriel;  that  he  will  not  die  till  the 
end  of  the  world,  and  that  it  was  Judas  who  was  crucified  in  his 
stead;  God  having  permitted  that  traitor  to  appear  so  like  his 
master,  in  the  eyes  of  the  Jews,  that  they  took  and  delivered  him 
to  Pilate.  That  this  resembling  was  so  great,  that  it  deceived  the 
Virgin  Mary  and  the  Apostles  themselves;  but  that  Jesus  Christ 
afterward  obtained  leave  of  God  to  go  and  comfort  them.  That 
Barnabas  having  then  asked  him,  why  the  divine  goodness  had 
suffered  the  mother  and  disciples  of  so  holy  a  prophet  to  believe 
even  for  one  moment  that  he  had  died  in  so  ignominious  a  manner? 
Jesus  returned  the  following  answer.  "  O  Barnabas,  believe  nie 
that  every  sin,  how  small  soever,  is  punished  by  God  with  great 
torment,  because  God  is  offended  with  sin.  My  mother  therefore 
and  faithful  disciples,  having  loved  me  with  a  mixture  of  earthly 
love,  the  just  God  has  been  pleased  to  punish  this  love  with  their 
present  grief,  that  they  might  not  be  punished  for  it  hereafter  in 
the  flames  of  hell.  And  as  for  me,  though  I  have  myself  been 
blameless  in  the  world,  yet  other  men  having  called  me  God  and 
the  Son  of  God;  therefore  God,  that  I  might  not  be  mocked  by  the 
devils  at  the  day  of  judgment,  has  been  pleased  that  in  this  world 
I  should  be  mocked  by  men  with  the  death  of  Judas,  making 
everybody  believe  that  I  died  upon  the  cross.  And  hence  it  is 
that  this  mocking  is  still  to  continue  the  coming  of  Mohammed, 
the  messenger  of  God;  who,  coming  into  the  world,  will  undeceive 
every  one  who  shall  believe  in  the  law  of  God  from  this  mistake." 

Page  93:  (1).  Literally,  Holdfast  by  the  cord  of  God.  That  is, 
Secure  yourselves  "by  adhering  to  Islam,  which  is  here  metaphori- 
cally expressed  by  a  cord,  because  it  is  as  sure  a  means  of  saving 
those  who  profess  it  from  perishing  hereafter,  as  holding  by  a  rope 
is  to  prevent  one's  falling  into  a  well,  or  other  like  place.  It  is  said 
that  Mohammed  used  for  the  same  reason  to  call  the  Koran,  Habl 
Allah  al  matin,  i.e.,  the  sure  cord  of  God. 

Page  96:  (1).  It  is  related  of  Hasan  the  son  of  Ali,  that  a  slave 
having  once  thrown  a  dish  on  him  boiling  hot,  as  he  sat  at  table, 
and  fearing  his  master's  resentment,  fell  immediately  on  his  knees, 
and  repeated  these  words,  Paradise  is  for  those  who  bridle  their 
anger:  Hasan  answered,  lam  not  angry.  The  slave  proceeded, 
and  for  those  who  forgive  men.  I  forgive  you,  said  Hasan.  The 
slave,  however,  finished  the  verse,  adding,  foi'  God  loveth  the 
beneficent.  Since  it  is  so  replied  Hasan,  /  give  you  your  liberty, 
and  four  hundred  pieces  of  silver.  A  noble  instance  of  moderation 
and  generosity. 


APPENDIX.  481 

Page  97:  (1)  Mohammed,  the  more  effectually  to  still  the 
murmurs  of  his  party  on  their  defeat,  represents  to  them  that  the 
time  of  every  man's  death  is  decreed  and  predetermined  by  ;_cod, 
and  that  those  who  fell  in  the  battle  could  not  have  avoided  i-ieir 
fate  had  they  stayed  at  home;  whereas  they  had  now  obtained  the 
glorious  advantage  of  dying  martyrs  for  the  faith.  Of  the  Moham- 
medan doctrine  of  absolute  predestination  I  have  spoken  in  an- 
other place. 

Page  104:  (1).  It  was  customary  among  the  pagan  Arabs,  when 
a  man  died,  for  one  of  his  relations  to  claim  a  right  to  his  widow, 
which  he  asserted  by  throwing  his  garment  over  her;  and  then  he 
either  married  her  himself,  if  he  thought  fit,  on  assigning  her  the 
same  dower  that  her  former  husband  had  done,  or  kept  her  dower 
and  married  her  to  another,  or  else  refused  to  let  her  marry  un- 
less she  redeemed  herself  by  quitting  what  she  might  claim  ot 
her  husband's  goods.  This  unjust  custom  is  abolished  by  this 
passage. 

Page  106:  (1).  These  sins  al  Beidawi,  from  a  tradition  of 
Mohammed,  reckons  to  be  seven  (equaling  in  number  the  sins 
called  deadly  by  Christians),  that  is  to  say,  idolatry,  murder, 
islsely  accusing  modest  women  of  adultery,  wasting  the  substance 
of  orphans,  taking  of  usury,  desertion  in  a  religious  expedition, 
and  disobedience  to  parents.  But  Ebn  Abbas  says  they  amount 
1.0  near  seven  hundred;  and  others  suppose  that  idolatry  only,  of 
different  kinds,  in  worshiping  idols  or  any  creature,  either  in 
opposition  to  or  jointly  with  the  true  God,  is  here  intended;  that 
sin  being  generally  esteemed  by  Mohammedans,  and  in  a  few 
lines  after  declared  by  the  Koran  itself,  to  be  the  only  one  which 
God  will  not  pardon. 

(2).  That  is,  they  shall  be  blessed  according  to  their  deserts; 
and  ought  therefore,  instead  of  displeasing  God  by  envying  of 
others,  to  endeavor  to  merit  his  favor  by  good  works  and  to  apply 
to  him  by  prayer. 

Page  108:  (1).  That  is,  before  the  tribunals  of  infidels.  This 
passage  was  occasioned  by  the  following  remarkable  accident.  A 
certain  Jew  having  a  dispute  with  a  wicked  Mohammedan,  the 
latter  appealed  to  the  judgment  of  Caab  Ebn  al  Ashraf,  a  priuci- 
pal  Jew,  and  the  former  to  Mohammed.  But  at  length  they 
agreed  to  refer  the  matter  to  the  prophet  singly,  who,  giving  it 
in  favor  of  the  Jew,  the  Mohammedan  refused  to  acquiesce  in  his 
sentence,  but  would  needs  have  it  re-heard  by  Omar,  afterward 
Khalif.  When  they  came  to  him,  the  Jew  told  him  that  Moham- 
med had  already  decided  the  affair  in  his  favor,  but  that  the  other 
would  not  submit  to  his  determination;  and  the  Mohammedan 
confessing  this  to  be  true,  Omar  bid  them  stay  a  little,  and  fetch- 
ing his  sword,  struck  off  the  obstinate  Moslem's  head,  saying 
aloud,  This  is  the  reward  of  him  who  refuseth  to  »>ibmit  to  the  judg- 
ment of  God  and  his  apostles.  And  from  this  action  Omar  had  the 
surname  of  al  Faruk,  which  alludes  both  to  his  separating  ihat 


482  APPENDIX. 

•knave's  Lead  from  his  body,  and  to  his  distinguishing  between 
i,ruth  and  falsehood.  The  name  of  Taghut,  therefore,  in  this 
place,  seems  to  be  given  to  Caab  Eon  al  Ashraf. 

Page  113:  (1).  Tirua  Ebn  Obeirak,  of  the  sons  of  Dhafar,  one 
of  Mohammed's  companions,  stole  a  coat  of  mail  from  his  neigh- 
bor, Kitada  Ebn  al  Noman,  in  a  bag  of  meal,  and  hid  it  at  a  Jew's 
named  Zeid  Ebn  al  Samin  ;  Tima,  being  suspected,  the  coat  of 
mail  was  demanded  of  him,  but  he  denying  he  knew  anything  of 
it,  they  followed  the  track  of  the  meal,  which  had  run  out  through 
a  hole  in  the  bag,  to  the  Jew's  house,  and  there  seized  it,  accus- 
ing him  of  the  theft ;  but  he  producing  witnesses  of  his  own  re- 
ligion that  he  had  it  of  Tima,  the  sons  of  Dhafar  came  to  Moham- 
med and  desired  him  to  defend  his  companion's  reputation,  and 
condemn  the  Jew  ;  which  he  having  some  thoughts  of  doing,  this 
passage  was  revealed,  reprehending  him  for  his  rash  intention, 
and  commanding  him  to  judge  not  according  to  his  own  prejudice 
and  opinion,  but  according  to  the  merit  of  the  case. 

Page  114:  (1).  That  is,  the  promises  of  God  are  not  to  be  gained 
by  acting  after  your  own  fancies,  nor  yet  after  the  fancies  of  the 
Jews  or  Christians,  but  by  obeying  the  commands  of  God.  This 
passage,  they  say,  was  revealed  on  a  dispute  which  arose  between 
those  of  the  three  religions,  each  preferring  his  own,  and  con- 
demning the  others.  Some,  however,  suppose  the  persons  here 
spoken  to  in  the  second  person  were  not  the  Mohammedans,  but 
the  idolaters. 

Page  115:  (1).  Therefore  the  Moharnrnadans  usually  call  that 
patriarch,  as  the  scripture  also  does,  Khalil  Allah,  the  Friend  of 
God,  and -simply  al  Khalil;  and  they  tell  the  following  story:  That 
Abraham  in  a  time  of  dearth  sent  to  a  friend  of  his  in  Egypt  for  a 
supply  of  corn  ;  but  the  friend  denied  him,  saying  in  his  excuse, 
that  though  there  was  a  famine  in  their  country  also,  yet  had  it 
been  for  Abraham's  own  family,  he  would  have  sent  what  he  de- 
sired, but  he  knew  he  wanted  it  only  to  entertain  his  guests  and 
give  away  to  the  poor,  according  to  his  usual  hospitality.  The 
servants  whom  Abraham  had  sent  on  this  message,  being  ashamed 
to  return  empty,  to  conceal  the  matter  from  their  neighbors,  filled 
their  sacks  with  fine  white  sand,  which  in  the  East  pretty 
much  resembles  meal.  Abraham  being  informed  by  his 
servants,  on  their  return  of  their  ill  success,  the  concern  he  was 
under  threw  him  into  a  sleep  ;  and  in  the  meantime  Sarah,  know- 
ing nothing  of  what  had  happened,  opening  one  of  the  sacks, 
found  good  flour  in  it,  and  immediately  set  out  about  making  of 
bread.  Abraham  awaking  and  smelling  the  new  bread,  asked  her 
whence  she  had  flour?  Why,  says  she,  from  your  friend  in 
Egypt.  Nay,  replied  the  Patriarch,  it  must  have  come  from  no 
other  than  my  friend  God  Almighty. 

Page  116:  (1).  These  were  the  Jews,  who  first  believed  in 
Moses,  and  afterward  fell  into  idolatry  by  worshiping  the 
golden  calf  ;  and  though  they  repented  of  that,  yet  in  after  ages 


APPENDIX.  483 

rejected  the  prophets  who  were  sent  to  them,  and  particularly 
Jesus,  the  son  of  Mary,  and  now  filled  up  the  measure  of  their 
unbelief  by  rejecting  of  Mohammed. 

Page  117:  (1).  Some,  referring  the  relative  his,  to  the  first  an- 
tecedent,  take  the  meaning  to  be,  that  no  Jew  or  Christian  shall 
die  before  he  believes  in  Jesus:  for  they  say,  that  when  one  of 
either  of  those  religions  is  ready  to  breathe  his  last,  and  sees  the 
angel  of  death  before  him,  he  shall  then  believe  in  that  prophet 
as  he  ought,  though  his  faith  will  not  then  be  of  any  avail.  Ac- 
cording to  a  tradition  of  Hejaj,  when  a  Jew  is  expiring,  the  angels 
will  strike  him  on  the  back  and  face,  and  say  to  him,  Othou  enemy 
of  God,  Jesus  was  sent  as  a  prophet  unto  iliee,  and  thou  didst  not 
believe  on  him;  to  which  he  will  answer,  /  now  believe  him  to  be  the 
servant  of  God;  and  to  a  dying  Christian  they  will  say,  Jesus  was 
sent  as  a  prophet  unto  thee,  and  thou  hast  imagined  him  to  be  God, 
or  the  son  0/God;  whereupon  he  will  believe  him  to  be  the  ser- 
vant of  God  only,  and  his  apostle.  Others,  taking  the  above- 
mentioned  relative  to  refer  to  Jesus,  suppose  the  intent  of  the  pas- 
sage to  be,  that  all  Jews  and  Christians  in  general  shall  have  a 
right  faith  in  that  prophet  before  his  death,  that  is,  when  he  de- 
scends from  Heaven  and  returns  into  the  world,  where  he  is  to 
kill  anti-Christ,  and  to  establish  the  Mohammedan  religion,  and  a 
most  perfect  tranquility  and  security  on  earth. 

Page  123:  (1).  The  occasion  of  their  making  this  offering  is 
thus  related,  according  to  the  common  tradition  in  the  East.  Each 
of  them  being  born  with  a  twin  sister,  when  they  were  grown  up, 
Adam,  by  God's  direction,  ordered  Cain  to  marry  Abel's  twin  sis- 
ter, and  that  Abel  should  marry  Cain's  (for  it  being  the  common 
opinion  that  marriages  ought  not  to  be  had  in  the  nearest  degrees 
of  consanguinity,  since  they  must  necessarily  marry  their  sisters, 
it  seemed  reasonable  to  suppose  they  ought  to  take  those  of  the 
remoter  degree),  but  this  Cain  refusing  to  agree  to,  because  his 
own  sister  was  the  handsomest,  Adam  ordered  them  to  make  their 
offerings  to  God,  thereby  referring  the  dispute  to  his  determina- 
tion. The  commentators  say  Cain's  offering  was  a  sheaf  of  the 
very  worst  of  his  corn,  but  Abel's  a  fat  lamb,  of  the  best  of  hia 
flock. 

(2).  i.e.,  His  dead  corpse.  For  Cain,  having  committed  this 
fratricide,  became  exceedingly  troubled  in  his  mind,  and  carried 
the  dead  body  about  on  his  shoulders  for  a  considerable  time,  not 
knowing  where  to  conceal  it,  till  it  stank  horridly;  and  then  God 
taught  him  to  bury  it  by  the  example  of  a  raven,  who  having 
killed  another  raven  in  his  presence,  dug  a  pit  with  his  claws  ana 
beak,  and  buried  him  therein.  For  this  circumstance  of  the 
raven  Mohammed  was  beholden  to  the  Jews,  who  tell  the  same 
story,  except  only  that  they  make  the  raven  to  appear  to  Adam, 
and  that  he  thereupon  buried  his  son. 

Page  126:  (1).  This  is  one  of  those  accidents  which,  it  is  pre- 
tended, were  foretold  by  the  Koran  long  before  they  came  to  pans. 


484  APPENDIX. 

For  in  tbe  latter  days  of  Mohammed,  and  after  his  death,  consid 
erable  numbers  of  the  Arabs  quitted  his  religion,  and  returned  to 
Paganism,  Judaism,  or  Christianity.  Al  Beidawi  reckons  them 
up  in  the  following  order.  1.  Three  companies  of  Banu  Modlaj, 
seduced  by  Dhu'lhainar  al  Aswad  al  Ansi,  who  set  up  for  a 
prophet  in  Yaman,  and  grew  very  powerful  there.  2.  Banu 
Honeifa,  who  followed  the  famous  false  prophet  Moseilaraa.  3. 
Banu  Asad,  who  acknowledged  Toleiha  Ebn  Khowailed,  another 
pretender  to  divine  revelation,  for  their  prophet.  All  these  fell 
off  in  Mohammed's  lifetime.  The  following,  except  only  the  last, 
apostatized  in  the  reign  of  Abu  Beer.  4.  Certain  of  the  tribe  of 
Fezarah,  headed  by  Oyeyma  Ebn  Hosein.  5.  Some  of  the  tribe  of 
Ghatfan,  whose  leader  was  Korrah  Ebn  Salma.  6.  Banu  Soleim, 
who  followed  al  Fajaah  Ebn  Abd  Yalil.  7.  Banu  Yarbu,  whose 
captain  was  Malec  Ebn  Noweirah  Ebn  Kais.  8.  Part  of  the  tribe 
of  Tamin,  the  proselytes  of  Sajaj  the  daughter  of  al  Mondhar, 
who  gave  herself  out  for  a  prophetess.  9.  The  tribe  of  Kendah, 
led  by  al  Ashath  Ebn  Kais.  10.  Banu  Beer  Ebn  al  Way  el,  in  the 
province  of  Bahrein,  headed  by  al  Hotam  Ebn  Zeid.  11.  Some  of 
the  tribe  of  Ghassan,  who  with  their  priiice  Jabalah  Ebn  al  Ayham, 
renounced  Mohammedism  in  the  time  of  Omar,  and  returned  to 
their  former  profession  of  Christianity.  But  as  to  the  persons 
who  fulfilled  the  other  part  of  this  prophecy,  by  supplying  the 
loss  of  so  many  renegades,  the  commentators  are  not  agreed. 
Some  will  have  them  to  be  the  inhabitants  of  Yaman,  and  others 
the  Persians  ;  the  authority  of  Mohammed  himself  being  vouched 
for  both  opinions.  Others,  however,  suppose  them  to  be  2,000  of 
the  tribe  of  al  Nakha  (who  dwelt  in  Yaman),  5,000  of  those  of 
Kendah  and  Bajilah,  and  3,000  of  unknown  descent,  who  were 
present  at  the  famous  battle  of  Kadesia,  fought  in  the  Khalifat  of 
Omar,  and  which  put  an  end  to  the  Persian  empire. 

(2).  That  is,  he  is  become  niggardly  and  close-fisted.  These 
were  the  words  of  Phineas  Ebn  Azura  (another  indecent  expres- 
sion of  whom,  almost  to  the  same  purpose,  is  mentioned  elsewhere) 
when  the  Jews  were  much  impoverished  by  a  dearth,  which  the 
commentators  will  have  to  be  a  judgment  on  them  for  their  reject- 
ing of  Mohammed;  and  the  other  Jews  who  heard  him,  instead  of 
reproving  him,  expressed  their  approbation  of  what  he  had  said. 

Page  129:  (1).  The  persons  directly  intended  in  this  passage 
were,  either  Ashama,  king  of  Ethiopia,  and  several  bishops  and 
priests,  who,  being  assembled  for  that  purpose,  heard  Jaafar  Ebn 
Abi  Taleb,  who  fled  to  that  country  in  the  first  flight,  read  the  29th 
and  30th,  and  afterward  the  18th  and  19th  chapters  of  the  Koran; 
on  hearing  of  which  the  king  and  the  rest  of  the  company  burst 
into  tears,  and  confessed  what  was  delivered  therein  to  be  con- 
formable to  truth;  that  prince  himself,  in  particular,  becoming  a 
proselyte  to  Mohammedism,  or  else,  thirty,  or  as  others  say, 
seventy  persons,  sent  ambassadors  to  Mohammed  by  the  same 
king  of  Ethiopia,  to  whom  the  prophet  himself  read  the  36th 


APPENDIX.  485 

chapter,  entitled  Y.S.  Whereupon  they  began  to  weep,  saying, 
How  like  is  this  to  that  which  was  revealed  unto  Jesus!  and  imme- 
diately professed  themselves  Moslems. 

Page  130:  (1).  These  were  the  names  given  by  the  pagan 
Arabs  to  certain  camels  or  sheep  which  were  turned  loose  to  feed, 
and  exempted  from  common  services,  in  some  particular  cases  ; 
having  their  ears  slit,  or  some  other  mark,  that  they  might  be 
known;  and  this  they  did  in  honor  of  their  gods.  Which  supersti 
tions  are  here  declared  to  be  no  ordinances  of  God,  but  the  inven- 
tions of  foolish  men. 

Page  132:  (1).  This  miracle  is  thus  related  by  the  commenta- 
tors. Jesus  having,  at  the  request  of  his  followers,  asked  it  of 
God,  a  red  table  immediately  descended,  in  their  sight,  between 
two  clouds,  and  was  set  before  them  ;  whereupon  he  rose  up,  and 
having  made  the  ablution,  prayed,  and  then  took  off  the  cloth 
which  covered  the  table,  saying,  In  the  name  of  God,  the  best  pro- 
vider of  food.  What  the  provisions  were  with  which  this  table 
was  furnished  is  a  matter  wherein  the  expositors  are  not  agreed. 
One  will  have  them  to  be  nine  cakes  of  bread  and  nine  fishes; 
another,  bread  and  flesh  ;  anotner,  all  sorts  of  food,  except  flesh; 
another  all  sorts  of  food,  except  bread  and  flesh  ;  another,  all  ex- 
cept bread  and  fish;  another,  one  fish,  which  had  the  taste  of  all 
manner  of  food;  and  another,  fruits  of  paradise;  but  the  most  re- 
ceived tradition  is  that  when  the  table  was  uncovered,  there 
appeared  a  fish  ready  dressed,  without  scales  or  prickly  fins,  drop- 
ping with  fat,  having  salt  placed  at  its  head  and  vinegar  at  its 
tail,  and  round  it  all  sorts  of  herbs,  except  leeks,  and  five  loaves 
of  bread,  on  one  of  which  there  were  olives,  on  the  second  honey, 
on  the  third  butter,  on  the  fourth  cheese,  and  on  the  fifth  dried 
flesh.  They  add  that  Jesus,  at  the  request  of  the  apostles,  showed 
them  another  miracle,  by  restoring  the  fish  to  life,  and  causing  its 
scales  and  fins  to  return  to  it,  at  which  the  standers-by  being  af- 
frighted, he  caused  it  to  become  as  it  was  before  ;  that  1,800  men 
and  women,  all  afflicted  with  bodily  infirmities  or  poverty,  ate  of 
these  provisions,  and  were  satisfied,  the  fish  remaining  whole  as 
it  was  at  first  ;  that  then  the  table  flew  up  to  Heaven  in  the  sight 
of  all;  and  every  one  who  had  partaken  of  this  food  were  delivered 
from  their  infirmites  and  misfortunes;  and  that  it  continued  to  de- 
scend for  forty  days  together  at  dinner-time,  and  stood  on  the 
ground  till  the  snn  declined,  and  was  then  taken  up  into  the 
clouds.  Some  of  the  Mohammedan  writers  are  of  opinion  that 
this  table  did  not  really  descend,  but  that  it  was  only  a  parable  ; 
but  most  think  the  words  of  the  Koran  are  plain  to  the  contrary. 
A  furtber  tradition  is,  thai  several  men  were  changed  into  swine 
for  disbelieving  this  miracle,  and  attributing  it  to  magic  art ;  or, 
as  others  pretend,  for  stealing  some  of  the  victuals  from  off  it. 
Several  other  fabulous  circumstances  are  also  told,  which  are 
scarce  worth  transcribing. 

(2).     Some  say  the  table  descended  on  a  Sunday,  which  was  the 


456  APPENDIX. 

reason  of  the  Christians  observing  that  day  as  sacred.  Others 
pretend  this  day  is  still  kept  among  them  as  a  very  great  festival; 
and  it  seems  as  if  the  story  had  its  rise  from  an  imperfect  notion 
of  Christ's  last  supper  and  the  institution  of  the  Eucharist. 

Page  135:  (1).  When  an  infidel  comes  forth  from  his  grave, 
says  Jallalo'ddin,  his  works  shall  be  represented  to  him  under  the 
ugliest  form  that  ever  he  beheld,  having  a  most  deformed  counte- 
nance, a  filthy  smell,  and  a  disagreeable  voice  ;  so  that  he  shall 
cry  out,  God  defend  me  from  thee,  what  art  thou?  I  never  saw 
anything  more  detestable  f  To  which  the  figure  will  answer,  1\'7iy 
dost  thou  wonder  at  my  ugliness  ?  lam  thy  evil  works  ;  thou  didst 
ride  upon  me  while  thou  wast  in  the  world  ;  but  now  mil  I  ride 
upon  thee,  and  thou  shalt  carry  me.  And  immediately  it  shall  get 
upon  him  ;  and  whatever  he  shall  meet  shall  terrify  him,  and  say, 
Hail,  thou  enemy  of  God,  thou  art  he  who  was  meant  by  (these 
words  of  the  Koran),  and  they  shall  carry  their  burdens,  etc. 

Page  186:  (1).  That  is,  in  the  preserved  table,  wherein  God's 
decrees  are  written,  and  all  things  which  come  to  pass  in  this 
world,  as  well  the  most  minute  as  the  more  momentous,  are  ex- 
actly registered. 

(2).  For,  according  to  the  Mohammedan  belief,  the  irrational 
animals  will  also  be  restored  to  life  at  the  resurrection,  that  they 
may  be  brought  to  judgment,  and  have  vengeance  taken  on  them 
for  the  injuries  they  did  one  another  while  in  this  world. 

Page  139:  (1).  This  is  the  name  which  the  Mohammedans  give 
to  Abraham's  father,  named  in  scripture  Terah.  However,  some 
of  their  writers  pretend  that  Azer  was  the  son  of  Terah,  and 
D'Herbelot  says  that  the  Arabs  always  distinguish  them  in  their 
genealogies  as  different  persons;  but  that,  because  Abraham  was 
the  son  of  Terah  according  to  Moses,  it  is  therefore  supposed  (by 
European  writers)  that  Terah  is  the  same  with  the  Azer  of  the 
Arabs.  How  true  this  observation  may  be  in  relation  to  some  au- 
thors, I  cannot  say,  but  I  am  sure  it  cannot  be  true  of  all  ;  for 
several  Arab  and  Turkish  writers  expressly  make  Azer  and  Terah 
the  same  person.  Azer,  in  ancient  times,  was  the  name  of  the 
planet  Mars,  and  the  month  of  March  was  so  called  by  the  most 
ancient  Persians;  for  the  word  originally  signifying  fire  (as  it  still 
does,)  it  was  therefore  given  by  them  and  the  Chaldeans  to  that 
planet,  which  partaking,  as  was  supposed,  of  a  fiery  nature,  was 
acknowledged  by  the  Chaldeans  and  Assyrians  as  a  god  or  planet- 
ary deity,  whom  in  old  times  they  worshiped  under  the  form  of 
a  pillar;  whence  Azer  became  a  name  among  the  nobility,  who  es- 
teemed it  honorable  to  be  denominated  from  their  gods,  and  is  found 
in  the  composition  of  several  Babylonish  names.  For  these 
reasons  a  learned  author  supposes  Azer  to  have  been  the  heathen 
name  of  Terah,  and  that  the  other  was  given  him  on  his  conver- 
sion. Al  Beidawi  confirms  this  conjecture,  saying  that  Azer  was 
the  name  of  the  idol  which  he  worshiped.  It  may  be  observed 
that  Abraham's  father  is  also  called  Zarah  in  the  Talmud  and 
Athar  bv  Eusebius. 


APPENDIX.  487 

(2).  Since  Abraham's  parents  were  idolaters,  it  seems  to  be  a 
necessary  consequence  that  himself  was  one  also  in  his  younger 
years;  the  scripture  not  obscurely  intimates  as  much,  and  the  Jews 
themselves  acknowledge  it.  At' what  age  he  came  to  the  knowl- 
edge of  the  true  God  and  left  idolatry,  opinions  are  various.  Some 
Jewish  writers  tell  us  he  was  then  but  three  years  old,  and  the 
Mohammedans  likewise  suppose  him  very  young,  and  that  he 
asked  his  father  and  mother  several  shre'wd  questions  when  a 
child.  Others,  however,  allow  him  to  have  been  a  middle-aged 
man  at  that  time.  Maimonides.in  particular.and  R.  Abraham  Zacuth 
think  him  to  have  been  forty  years  old,  which  age  is  also  men- 
tioned in  the  Koran.  But  the  general  opinion  of  the  Mohamme- 
dans is  that  he  was  about  fifteen  or  sixteen.  As  the  religion 
wherein  Abraham  was  educated  was  the  Sabian,  which  consisted 
chiefly  in  the  worship  of  the  heavenly  bodies,  he  is  introduced  ex- 
amining their  nature  and  properties,  to  see  whether  they  had  a 
right  to  the  worship  which  was  paid  them  or  not:  and  the  first  which 
he  observed  was  the  planet  Venus,  or,  as  others  will  have  it. 
Jupiter.  This  method  of  Abraham's  attaining  to  the  knowledge 
of  the  supreme  Creator  of  all  things,  is  conformable  to  what 
Josephus  writes,  vie. :  That  he  drew  his  notions  from  the  changes 
which  he  had  observed  in  the  earth  and  the  sea,  and  in  the  sun 
and  the  moon,  and  the  rest  of  the  celestial  bodies  ;  concluding  that 
they  were  subject  to  the  command  of  a  superior  power,  to  whom 
alone  all  honor  and  thanks  are  due.  The  story  itself  is  certainly 
taken  from  the  Talmud.  Some  of  the  commentators,  however, 
suppose  this  reasoning  of  Abraham  with  himself  was  not  the  first 
means  of  his  conversion,  but  that  he  used  it  only  by  way  of  argu- 
ment to  convince  the  idolaters  among  whom  he  then  lived. 

Page  144:  (1).  The  commentators  tell  us  that  this  alleviation  of 
the  pains  of  the  damned  will  be  when  they  shall  be  taken  out  of 
the  fire  to  drink  the  boiling  water,  or  to  suffer  the  extreme  cold, 
called  al  Zamharir,  which  is  to  be  one  part  of  their  punishment  ; 
but  others  think  the  respite  which  God  will  grant  to  some  before 
they  are  thrown  into  hell,  is  here  intended.  According  to  the  ex- 
position of  Ebn  Abbas,  these  words  may  be  rendered,  Unlt»s 
Mm  whom  God  shall  please  to  deliver  thence. 

(2).  Either  by  that  inhuman  custom,  which  prevailed  among 
those  of  Kendah'and  some  other  tribes,  of  burying  their  daughters 
alive,  so  soon  as  they  were  born,  if  they  apprehended  they  could 
not  maintain  them  ;  or  else  by  offering  them  to  their  idola,  at  the 
instigation  of  those  who  had  the  custody  of  their  temples. 

Page  147:  (1).  Al  Beidawi,  from  a  tradition  of  Mohammed, 
says  that  ten  signs  will  precede  the  last  clay,  viz.,  the  smoke,  the 
beast  of  the  earth,  an  eclipse  in  the  east,  another  in  the  west, 
and  a  third  in  the  peninsula  of  Arabia,  the  appearance  of  anti- 
Christ,  the  sun's  rising  in  the  west,  the  eruption  of  Gog  and 
Magog,  the  descent  of  Jesus  on  earth,  and  fire  which  shall  break 
forth  from  Aden. 


488  APPENDIX. 

Page  149:  (1).  The  Mohammedan  gospel  of  Barnabas  tells  us, 
that  the  sentence  which  God  pronounced  on  the  serpent  for  intro- 
ducing the  devil  into  paradise  was,  that  'he  should  not  only  be 
turned  out  of  paradise,  but  that  he  should  have  his  legs  cut  off  by 
ihe  angel  Michael,  with  the  sword  of  God;  and  that  the  devil  him- 
self, since  he  had  rendered  our  first  parents  unclean,  was  con- 
demned to  eat  the  excrements  of  them  and  all  their  posterity  ; 
which  two  last  circumstances  I  do  not  remember  to  have  read 
elsewhere.  The  words  of  the  manuscript  are  these:  T  llamo 
[Dios\  a  la  serpieute,  y  a  Michael,  aqud  que  tiene  la  espada  de 
.Dios,  y  le  dixo  ;  Aquesta  sierpe  es  acelerada,  echala  la  primcra 
del  parayso,  y  cortale  las  pier  IMS.  y  si  quisiere  caminar,  arrastrara 
la  mda  por  tierra.  Y  llamo  d  Satanas,  el  qital  mno  riendo,  y 
dixole  ;  Porque  tu  reprobo  has  enganado  a  aquestos,  y  los  has  kecfio 
immundos  f  To  quiero  que  toda  immundicia  suya,  y  de  todos  sus 
hijos,  en  mliendo  de  sus  cuerpos  entre  por  tu  boca,  porgue  ex  verdad 
ellos  haran  penitencia,  y  tu  quedaras  harto  de  immundicia. 

Page  151 :  (1).  Al  Araf  is  the  name  of  the  wall  or  partition 
which,  as  Mohammed  taught,  will  separate  paradise  from  hell. 
But  as  to  the  persons  who  are  to  be  placed  thereon  the  commenta- 
tors differ,  as  has  been  elsewhere  observed. 

Page  153:  (1).  Noah  the  son  of  Lamech,  according  to  the  Mo- 
hammedan writers,  was  one  of  the  six  principal  prophets,  though 
he  had  no  written  revelations  delivered  to  him,  and  the  first  who 
appeared  after  his  great-grandfather  Edris  or  Enoch.  They  also 
say  he  was  by  trade  a  carpenter,  which  they  infer  from  his  build- 
ing the  ark,  and  that  the  year  of  his  mission  was  the  fiftieth,  or, 
as  others  say,  the  fortieth  of  his  age.  That  Noah  was  a  preacher 
of  righteousness  unto  the  wicked  antediluvians  is  testified  by 
scripture.  The  eastern  Christians  say  that  when  God  ordered 
Noah  to  build  the  ark,  he  also  directed  him  to  make  an  instru- 
ment of  wood,  such  as  they  make  use  of  at  this  day  in  the  east, 
instead  of  bells,  to  call  the  people  to  church,  and  named  in 
Arabic  Nakus,  and  in  modern  Greek  Semandra;  on  which  he  was 
to  strike  three  times  every  day,  not  only  to  call  together  the 
workmen  that  were  building  the  ark,  but  to  give  him  an  oppor- 
tunity of  daily  admonishing  his  people  of  the  impending  danger 
of  the  Deluge,  which  would  certainly  destroy  them  if  they  did  not 
repent.  Some  Mohammedan  authors  pretend  Noah  was  sent  to 
convert  Zohak,  one  of  the  Persian  kings  of  the  first  race,  who  re- 
fused to  hearken  to  him  ;  and  that  he  afterward  preached  God's 
unity  publicly. 

(2).  That  is,  those  who  believed  on  him,  and  entered  into  that 
vessel  with  him.  Though  there  be  a  tradition  among  the  Moham- 
medans, said  to  have  been  received  from  the  prophet  himself,  and 
conformable  to  the  scripture,  that  eight  persons,  and  no  more, 
were  saved  in  the  ark,  yet  some  of  them  report  the  number  vari- 
ously. One  says  they  were  but  six,  another  ten,  another  twelve, 
another  seventy-eight,  and  another  four-score,  half  men  and  half 


API'ENDIX.  489 

«romen,  and  that  one  of  them  was  the  elder  Jorham,  tlie  preserver, 
as  some  pretend,  of  the  Arabian  language. 

(8).  Ad  was  an  ancient  and  potent  tribe  of  Arabs,  and  zealous 
idolaters.  They  chiefly  worshiped  four  deities,  Sakia,  Hafedha, 
Razeka  and  Saleuia  ;  the  first,  as  they  imagined,  supplying  them 
with  rain,  the  second  preserving  them  from  all  dangers  abroad, 
the  third  providing  food  for  their  sustenance,  and  the  fourth  re- 
storing them  to  health  when  afflicted  with  sickness,  according  to 
the  signification  of  the  several  names. 

Page  154:  (1).  The  dreadful  destruction  of  the  Adites  we  have 
mentioned  in  another  place,  and  shall  only  add  here  some  further 
circumstances  of  that  calamity,  and  which  differs  a  little  from 
what  is  there  said;  for  the  Arab  writers  acknowledge  many  incon- 
sistencies in  the  histories  of  these  ancient  tribes.  The  tribe  of  Ad 
having  been  for  their  incredulity  previously  chastised  with  a  three 
years'  drought,  sent  Kail  Ebn  Ithar  and  Morthed  Ebn  Saad,  with 
seventy  other  principal  men,  to  the  temple  of  Mecca  to  obtain 
rain.  Mecca  was  then  in  the  hands  of  the  tribe  of  Amalek  whose 
prince  was  Moawiyah  Ebn  Beer ;  and  he,  being  without  the  city 
when  the  ambassadors  arrived,  entertained  them  there  for  a  month 
in  so  hospitable  a  manner  that  they  had  forgotten  the  business 
they  came  about  had  not  the  king  reminded  them  of  it,  'not  as 
from  himself,  lest  they  should  think  he  wanted  to  be  rid  of 
them,  but  by  some  verses  which  he  put  into  the  mouth  of  a  sing- 
ing woman.  At  which,  being  roused  from  their  lethargy, 
Morthed  told  them  the  only  way  they  had  to  obtain  what 
they  wanted  would  be  to  repent  and  obey  their  prophet ;  but  this 
displeasing  the  rest,  they  desired  Moawiyah  to  imprison  him,  lest 
he  should  go  with  them;  which  being  done,  Kail  with  the  rest  en- 
tering Mecca,  begged  of  God  that  he  would  send  rain  to  the  people 
of  Ad.  Whereupon  three  clouds  appeared,  a  white  one,  a  red 
one,  and  a  black  one  ;  and  a  voice  from  Heaven  ordered  Kail  to 
choose  which  he  would.  Kail  failed  not  to  make  choice  of  the 
last,  thinking  it  to  be  laden  with  the  most  rain  ;  but  when  this 
cloud  came  over  them,  it  proved  to  be  fraught  with  the  divine 
vengeance,  and  a  tempest  broke  forth  from  it  which  destroyed 
them  all. 

(2).  The  Thamudites,  insisting  on  a.  miracle,  proposed  to  Saleh 
that  he  should  go  with  them  to  their  festival,  and  that  they 
should  call  on  their  gods,  and  he  is  on  his,  promising  to  follow 
that  deity  which  should  answer.  But  after  thev  had  called  on 
their  idols  a  long  time  to  no  purpose,  Jonda  Ebn  Amru,  their 
prince,  pointed  to  a  rock  standing  by  itself,  and  bade  Saleh  cause 
a  she-camel  big  with  young  to  come  forth  from  it,  solemnly  en- 
gaging that,  if  he  did,  he  would  believe,  and  his  people  promised 
the  same.  Whereupon  Saleh  asked  it  of  God,  and  presently  the 
rock,  after  several  throes  as  if  in  labor,  was  delivered  of  a  she- 
camel  answering  the  description  of  Jonda,  which  immediately 
brough  forth  a  young  one,  ready  weaned,  and,  as  some  say,  as  big 


490  APPENDIX. 

as  herself.  Jonda  seeing  this  miracle,  believed  on  the  prophet, 
and  some  few  with  him;  but  the  greater  part  of  the  Thamudites 
remained,  notwithstanding,  incredulous.  Of  this  camel  the  com- 
mentators tell  several  very  absurd  stories,  as  that,  when  she  went 
to  drink,  she  never  raised  her  head  from  the  well  or  river  till  she 
had  drunk  up  all  the  water  in  it,  and  then  she  offered  herself  to 
be  milked,  the  people  drawing  from  her  as  much  milk  as  they 
pleased ;  and  some  say  that  she  went  about  the  town  crying 
aloud,  If  any  wants  milk  let  Mm  come  forth. 

Page  156:  (1).  This  was  the  common  title  or  name  of  the 
kings  of  Egypt  (signifying  king  in  the  Coptic  tongue),  as  Ptolemy 
was  in  after  times;  and  as  Caesar  was  that  of  the  Roman  emperors, 
and  Khosru  that  of  the  kings  of  Persia.  But  which  of  the  kings 
of  Egypt  this  Pharaoh  of  Moses  was,  is  uncertain.  Not  to  men- 
tion the  opinions  of  the  European  writers,  those  of  the  East  gen- 
erally suppose  him  to  have  been  al  Walid,  who,  according  to 
some,  was  an  Arab  of  the  tribe  of  Ad,  or,  according  to  others,  the 
son  of  Masab  the  son  of  Riyan,  the  son  of  Walid,  the  Amalekite. 
There  are  historians,  however,  who  suppose  Kabus,  the  brother 
and  predecessor  of  al  Walid,  was  the  prince  we  are  speaking  of;  and 
pretended  he  lived  six  hundred  and  twenty  years,  and  reigned 
four  hundred.  Which  is  more  reasonable,  at  least,  than  the 
opinion  of  those  who  imagine  it  was  his  father  Masab,  or  grand- 
father Riyan.  Abulfeda  says  that  Masab  being  one  hundred  and 
seventy  years  old,  and  having  no  child,  while  he  kept  the  herds 
saw  a  cow  calve,  and  heard  her  say,  at  the  same  time,  O  Masab, 
be  not  grieved,  for  thou  shalthave  a  wicked  son,who  will  be  at  length 
cast  into  hell.  And  he  accordingly  had  this  Walid,  who  after- 
ward coming  to  be  king  of  Egypt,  proved  an  impious  tyrant. 

(2).  The  Arab  writers  tell  enormous  fables  of  this  ser- 
pent or  dragon.  For  they  say  that  he  was  hairy,  and  of  so  pro- 
digious  a  size,  that  when  he  opened  his  mouth,  his  jaws  were  four- 
score cubits  asunder,  and  when  he  laid  his  lower  jaws  on  the 
ground,  his  upper  reached  to  the  top  of  the  palace  ;  that  Pharaoh 
seeing  this  monster  make  toward  him,  tied  from  it,  and  was  so 
terribly  frightened  that  he  befouled  himself ;  and  that  the  whole 
assembly  also  betaking  themselves  to  their  heels,  no  less  than 
twenty-five  thousand  of  them  lost  their  lives  in  the  press.  They 
add  that  Pharaoh  upon  this  adjured  Moses  by  God  who  had  sent 
him,  to  take  away  the  serpent,  an- 1  promised  he  would  believe  on 
him,  and  let  the  Israelites  go;  but  when  Moses  had  done  what  he 
requested,  he  relapsed,  and  grew  as  hardened  as  before. 

(3).  There  is  a  tradition  that  Moses  was  a  very  swarthy  man  ; 
and  that  when  he  put  his  hand  into  his  bosom,  and  drew  it  out 
again,  it  became  extremely  white  and  splendid,  surpassing  the 
brightness  of  the  sun.  Marracci  says  we  do  not  read  in  script- 
ure that  Moses  showed  this  sign  before  Pharaoh.  It  is  true,  the 
Bcripture  does  not  expressly  say  so,  but  it  seems  to  be  no  more 
than  a  necessary  inference  from  that  passage  where  God  tells 


APPENDIX.  491 

Moses  that  if  they  will  not  hearken  to  the  first  sign  they  will  be- 
heve  the  latter  sign,  and  if  they  will  not  believe  these  two  signs 
then  directs  him  to  turn  the  water  into  blood. 

Page  157:  (1).  It  seems  probable  that  all  the  magicians  were 
not  converted  by  this  miracle,  for  some  writers  introduce  Sadflr 
and  Ghadur  only,  acknowledging  Moses'  miracle  to  be  wrought 
by  the  power  of  God.  These  two,  they  say,  were  brothers,  and 
the  sons  of  a  famous  magician,  then  dead  ;  but  on  their  being 
sent  for  to  court  on  this  occasion,  their  mother  persuaded  them  to 
go  to  their  father's  tomb  to  ask  his  advice.  Being  come  to  the 
tomb,  the  father  answered  their  call  ;  and  when  they  had  ac- 
quainted him  with  the  affair,  he  told  them  that  they  should  in- 
form themselves  whether  the  rod  of  which  they  spoke  became  a 
serpent  while  its  masters  slept,  or  only  when  they  were  awake; 
for,  said  he,  enchantments  have  no  effect  while  the  enchanter 
is  asleep,  and  therefore  if  it  be  otherwise  in  this  case,  you  may  be 
assured  that  they  act  by  a  divine  power.  These  two  magicians 
then,  arriving  at  the  capital  of  Egypt,  on  inquiry  found,  to  their 
great  astonishment,  that  when  Moses  and  Aaron  went  to  rest, 
their  rod  became  a  serpent,  and  guarded  them  while  they  slept. 
And  this  was  the  first  step  toward  their  conversion. 

Page  158:  (1).  This  inundation,  they  say,  was  occasioned  by 
unusual  rains,  which  continued  eight  days  together,  and  the  over- 
flowing of  the  Nile;  and  not  only  covered  their  lands,  but  came 
into  their  houses,  and  rose  as  high  as  their  backs  and  necks  ;  but 
the  children  of  Israel  had  no  rain  in  their  quarters.  As  there  is 
no  mention  of  any  such  miraculous  inundation  in  the  Mosaic  writ- 
ings, some  have  imagined  this  plague  to  have  been  either  a  pesti- 
lence, or  the  small-pox,  or  some  other  epidemical  distemper.  For 
the  word  tufdn,  which  is  used  in  this  place,  and  is  generally  ren- 
dered a  deluge,  may  also  signify  any  other  universal  destruction 
or  mortality. 

Page  159:  (1).  These  tables, according  to  some,  were  seven  in  num- 
ber, and  according  to  others  ten.  Nor  are  the  commentators  agreed 
whether  they  were  cut  out  of  a  kind  of  lote-tree  in  paradise 
called  al  Sedra,  or  whether  they  were  chrysolites,  emeralds,  rubies 
or  common  stone.  But  they  say  that  they  were  each  ten  or  twelve 
cubits  long;  for  they  suppose  that  not  only  the  ten  commandments 
but  the  whole  law  was  written  thereon  ;  and  some  add  that  the 
letters  were  cut  quite  through  the  tables,  so  that  they  might  be 
read  on  both  sides — which  is  a  fable  of  the  Jews. 

Page  162:  (1).  This  was  done  in  the  plain  of  Dahia  in  India, 
or  as  others  imagine,  in  a  valley  near  Mecca.  The  commentators 
tell  us  that  God  stroked  Adam's  back,  and  extracted  from  his 
loins  his  whole  posterity,  which  should  come  into  the  world  until 
the  resurrection,  one  generation  after  another;  that  these  men 
were  actually  assembled  all  together  in  the  shape  of  small  ants, 
which  were  endued  with  understanding  ;  and  that  after  they  bad, 
in  the  presence  of  the  angels,  confessed  their  dependence  on  God, 


492  APPENDIX. 

they  were  again  caused  to  return  into  the  loins  of  their  great  an- 
cestor. From  this  fiction  it  appears  that  the  doctrine  of  pre-exis- 
tence  is  not  unknown  to  the  Mohammedans  ;  there  is  some 
little  conformity  between  it  and  the  modern  theory  of  generation 
ex  animalculis  in  semine  marium. 

Page  163:  (1).  For  the  explaining  of  this  whole  passage,  the 
commentators  tell  the  following  story: 

"  They  say,  that  when  Eve  was  big  with  her  first  child,  the  devil 
came  to  her  and  asked  her  whether  she  knew  what  she  carried 
within  her,  and  which  way  she  should  be  delivered  of  it,  suggest- 
ing that  possibly  it  might  be  a  beast.  She,  being  unable  to  give 
an  answer  to  this  question,  went  in  a  fright  to  Adam,  and  ac- 
quainted him  with  the  matter,  who,  not  knowing  what  to  think  of 
it,  grew  sad  and  pensive.  Whereupon  the  devil  appeared  to  hei 
again  (or,  as  others  say,  to  Adam),  and  pretended  that  he  by  his 
prayers  would  obtain  of  God  that  she  might  be  safely  delivered  of 
a  son  in  Adam's  likeness,  provided  they  would  promise  to  name 
him  Abda'lhareth,or  the  servant  ofalHareth  (which  was  the  devil's 
name  among  the  angels),  instead  of  Abd'allah,  or  the  servant  of 
God,  as  Adam  had  designed.  This  proposal  was  agreed  to,  and 
accordingly,  when  the  child  was  born,  they  gave  it  the  name, 
upon  which  it  immediately  died."  And  with  this  Adam  and  Eve 
are  here  taxed,  as  an  act  of  idolatry.  The  story  looks  like  a  rab- 
binical fiction,  and  seems  to  have  no  other  foundation  than  Cain's 
being  called  by  Moses  Obed  adamah.  that  is,  a  tiller  of  the  ground, 
which  might  be  translated  into  Arabic  by  Abd'alhareth.  But  al 
Beidawi,  thinking  it  unlikely  that  a  prophet  (as  Adam  is,  by  the 
Mohammedans,  supposed  to  have  been)  should  be  guilty  of  such 
an  action,  imagines  the  Koran  in  this  place  means  Kosai,  one  of 
Mohammed's  ancestors,  and  his  wife,  who  begged  issue  of  God, 
and  having  four  sons  granted  them,  called  their  names  AbdMenaf, 
Abd  Shams,  Abd'al  Uzza,  and  Abd'al  Dar,  after  the  names  of  the 
four  principal  idols  of  the  Koreish.  And  the  following  words  als<. 
he  supposes  to  relate  to  their  idolatrous  posterity. 

Page  165:  (1).  It  is  related,  that  the  spot  where  Mohammed's 
little  army  lay  was  a  dry  and  deep  sand,  into  which  their  feet 
sank  as  they  walked,  the  enemy  having  the  command  of 
water ;  and  that  having  fallen  asleep,  the  greater  part  of  them 
were  disturbed  with  dreams,  wherein  the  devil  suggested  to  them 
that  they  could  never  expect  God's  assistance  in  the  battle,  since 
they  were  cut  off  from  the  water,  and  besides  suffering  the  incon- 
venience of  thirst,  must  be  obliged  to  pray  without  washing, 
though  they  imagined  themselves  to  be  the  favorites  of  God,  and 
that  they  had  his  apostle  among  them.  But  in  the  night  rain  fell 
so  plentifully  that  it  formed  a  little  brook,  and  not  only  supplied 
them  with  water  for  all  their  uses,  but  made  the  sand  between 
them  and  the  infidel  army  firm  enough  to  bear  them  ;  whereupon 
the  diabolical  suggestions  ceased. 

Page  166:  (1).     This  Is  the  punishment  expressly  assigned  the 


APPENDIX.  493 

enemies  of  the  Mohammedan  religion  ;  though  the  Moslems  did 
not  inflict  it  on  the  prisoners  they  took  at  Bedr,  for  which  they 
are  reprehended  in  this  chapter. 

Page  173:  (1).  This  grievous  charge  against  the  Jews  the 
commentators  endeavor  to  support  by  telling  us  that  it  is  meant  of 
some  ancient  heterodox  Jews,  or  else  of  some  Jews  of  Medina  : 
who  said  so  for  no  other  reason  than  for  that  the  law  being  utterh 
lost  and  forgotten  during  the  Babylonish  captivity,  Ezra,  having 
been  raised  to  life  after  he  had  been  dead  one  hundred  years,  dic- 
tated the  whole  anew  to  the  scribes,  out  of  his  own  memory  ;  at 
which  they  greatly  marveled,  and  declared  that  he  could  not 
have  done  it  unless  he  were  the  son  of  God.  Al  Beidawi,  adds 
that  the  imputation  must  be  true,  because  this  verse  was  read  to 
the  Jews,  and  they  did  not  contradict  it  :  which  they  were  ready 
enough  to  do  in  other  instances.  That  Ezra  did  thus  restore  not 
only  the  Pentateuch,  but  also  the  other  books  of  the  Old  Testa- 
ment, by  divine  revelation,  was  the  opinion  of  several  of  the 
Christian  fathers,  who  are  quoted  by  Dr.  Prideaux,  and  of  some 
other  writers  ;  which  they  seem  to  have  first  borrowed  from  a  pas- 
sage in  that  very  ancient  apocryphal  book,  called  (in  our  English 
Bible)  the  second  book  of  Esdras.  Dr.  Prideaux  tells  us  that  herein 
the  fathers  attributed  more  to  Ezra  than  the  Jews  themselves, 
who  suppose  that  he  only  collected  and  set  forth  a  correct  edition 
of  the  scriptures,  which  he  labored  much  in,  and  went  a  great 
way  in  the  perfecting  of  it.  It  is  not  improbable,  however,  that 
the  fiction  came  originally  from  the  Jews,  though  they  be  now  of 
another  opinion,  and  I  cannot  fix  it  upon  them  by  any  direct 
proof.  For,  not  to  insist  on  the  testimony  of  the  Mohammedans 
(which  yet  I  cannot  but  think  of  some  little  weight  in  a  point  of 
this  nature),  it  is  allowed  by  the  most  sagacious  critics  tlmt  the 
second  book  of  Ezra  was  written  by  a  Christian  indeed,  but  yet 
one  who  had  been  bred  a  Jew,  and  was  intimately  acquainted  with 
the  fables  of  the  Rabbins;  and  the  story  itself  is  perfectly  iu  the 
taste  and  way  of  thinking  of  those  men. 

Page  185:  (1).  For  so  old  was  Mohammed  before  he  took  upon 
him  to  be  a  prophet ;  during  which  time  his  fellow-citizens  well 
knew  that  he  had  not  applied  himself  to  learning  of  any  sort,  nor 
frequented  learned  men,  nor  had  ever  exercised  himself  in  compos- 
ing verses  or  orations  whereby  he  might  acquire  the  art  of 
rhetoric,  or  elegance  of  speech.  A  flagrant  proof,  says  al  Beidawi, 
that  this  book  could  be  taught  him  by  none  but  God. 

(2).  That  is  to  say,  the  true  religion,  or  Islam,  which  was  gen- 
erally professed,  as  some  say,  till  Abel  was  murdered,  or,  as 
others,  till  the  days  of  Noah.  Some  suppose  the  first  ages  after 
the  Flood  are  here  intended:  others,  the  state  of  religion  in  Arabia, 
from  the  time  of  Abraham  to  that  of  Amru  Ebn  Lohai,  the  great 
introducer  of  idolatry  into  that  country. 

Page  190:  (1).  So  Jallalo'ddin  expounds  the  original  word 
Kebla,  which  properly  signifies  that  place  or  quarter  toward 


494  APPENDIX. 

which  one  prays.  Wherefore  al  Zamakhshari  supposes  that  the 
Israelites  are  here  ordered  to  dispose  their  oratories  in  such  a 
manner  that,  when  they  prayed,  their  faces  might  be  turned  to- 
ward Mecca;  which  he  imagines  was  the  Kebla  of  Moses,  as  it  is 
that  of  the  Mohammedans.  The  former  commentator  adds  that 
Pharaoh  had  forbidden  the  Israelites  to  pray  to  God  ;  for  which 
reason  they  were  obliged  to  perform  that  duty  privately  in  their 
houses. 

(2).  These  words,  it  is  said,  Pharaoh  repeated  often  in  his  ex- 
tremity, that  he  might  be  heard.  But  his  repentance  came  toe 
late;  for  Gabriel  soon  stopped  his  mouth  with  mud,  lest  he  should 
obtain  mercy  ;  reproaching  him  at  the  same  time  in  the  words 
which  follow. 

(8).  Some  of  the  children  of  Israel  doubting  whether  Pharaoh 
was  really  drowned.  Gabriel,  by  God's  command,  caused  hia 
naked  corpse  to  swim  to  shore,  that  they  might  see  it.  The  word, 
here  translated  body,  signifying  also  a  coat  of  mail,  some  imagine 
the  meaning  to  be,  that  his  corpse  floated  armed  with  his  coat  of 
mail,  which  they  tell  us  was  of  gold,  by  which  they  knew  that 
it  was  he. 

Page  191:  (1).  viz.,  The  inhabitants  of  Ninive,  which  stood 
on  or  near  the  place  where  al  Mawsel  now  stands.  This  people 
having  corrupted  themselves  with  idolatry,  Jonas  the  son  of 
Mattai  (or  Amittai,  which  the  Mohammedans  suppose  to  be  the 
name  of  his  mother),  an  Israelite  of  the,  tribe  of  Benjamin,  was 
sent  by  God  to  preach  to  and  reclaim  them.  When  he  first  began 
to  exhort  them  to  repentance,  instead  of  harkening  to  him,  they 
used  him  very  ill,  so  that  he  was  obliged  to  leave  the  city  ; 
threatening  them,  at  his  departure,  that  they  should  be  destroyed 
within  three  days,  or,  as  others  say,  within  forty.  But  when  the 
time  drew  near,  and  they  saw  the  Heavens  over-cast  with  a  black 
cloud,  which  shot  forth  fire,  and  filled  the  air  with  smoke,  and 
hung  directly  over  their  city,  they  were  in  a  terrible  consternation, 
and  getting  into  the  fields  with  their  families  and  cattle,  they  put 
on  sack-cloth,  and  humbled  themselves  before  God,  calling  aloud 
for  pardon,  and  sincerely  repenting  of  their  past  wickedness. 
Whereupon  God  was  pleased  to  forgive  them,  and  the  storm  blew 
over. 

Page  192:  (1).  For  the  Mohammedans  suppose  this  throne,  and 
the  waters  whereon  it  stands,  which  waters  they  imagine  are  sup- 
ported by  a  spirit  or  wind,  were,  with  some  other  things,  created 
before  the  heavens  and  earth.  This  fancy  they  borrowed  from  the 
Jews,  who  also  say  that  the  throne  of  glory  then  stood  in  the  air, 
and  was  borne  on  the  face  of  the  waters,  by  the  breath  of  God's 
mouth. 

Page  195:  (1).  Or,  as  the  original  literally  signifies,  boiled 
over;  which  is  consonant  to  what  the  Babbins  say,  that  the  waters 
of  the  Deluge  were  boiling  hot.  This  oven  was,  as  some  say,  at 
Cufa,  in  a  spot  whereon  a  mosque  now  stands;  or,  as  others  rather 


APPENDIX.  495 

think,  in  a  certain  place  in  India,  or  else  at  Ain  warda  in  Meso- 
potamia;  aud  its  exundation  was  the  sign  by  which  Noah  knew  the 
flood  was  coming.  Some  pretend  that  it  was  the  same  oven  which 
Eve  made  use  of  to  bake  her  bread  in,  being  of  a  form  different 
from  those  we  use,  having  the  mouth  in  the  upper  part,  and  that 
it  descended  from  patriarch  to  patriarch,  till  it  came  to  Noah.  It 
is  remarkable  that  Mohammed,  in  all  probability,  borrowed  this 
circumstance  from  the  Persian  Magi,  who  also  fancied  that  the 
first  waters  of  the  Deluge  gushed  out  of  the  oven  of  a  certain  old 
woman  named  Zala  Cufa.  But  the  word  tann&r,  which  is  here 
translated  oven,  also  signifying  the  superficies  of  the  earth,  or  a 
place  whence  waters  spring  forth,  or  where  they  are  collected,  some 
suppose  it  means  no  more  in  this  passage  than  the  spot  or  fissure 
whence  the  first  eruption  of  waters  brake  forth. 

(2).  Or,  as  the  words  may  also  be  rendered,  and  some  commen- 
tators think  they  ought,  two  pair,  that  is,  two  males  and  two  fe- 
males of  each  species;  wherein  they  partly  agree  with  divers  Jew- 
ish and  Christian  writers,  who  from  the  Hebrew  expression,  seven 
and  seven  and  two  and  two,  the  male  and  his  female,  suppose  there 
went  into  the  ark  fourteen  pair  of  every  clean,  and  two  pair  of 
every  unclean  species.  There  is  a  tradition  that  God  gathered  to- 
gether unto  Noah  all  sorts  of  beasts,  birds  and  other  animals  (it 
being  indeed  difficult  to  conceive  how  he  should  come  by  them  all 
without  some  supernatural  assistance),  and  that  as  he  laid  hold  on 
them,  his  right  hand  constantly  fell  on  the  male,  and  his  left  on 
the  female. 

(3).  This  was  an  unbelieving  son  of  Noah,  named  Canaan,  or 
Yam  ;  though  others  say  he  was  not  the  son  of  Noah,  but  his 
grandson  by  his  son  Ham,  or  his  wife's  son  by  another  husband  ; 
nay,  some  pretend  he  was  related  to  him  no  farther  than  by  hav- 
ing been  educated  and  brought  up  in  his  house.  The  best  com- 
mentators add,  that  Noah's  wife,  named  Waila,  who  was  an 
infidel,  was  also  comprehended  in  this  exception,  and  perished 
with  her  sou. 

(4).  That  is,  omit  no  opportunity  of  getting  on  board.  Ac- 
cording  to  a  different  reading,  the  latter  words  may  be  rendered, 
Who  shall  cause  it  to  move  forward,  and  to  stop,  as  there 
shall  be  occasion.  The  commentators  tell  us  that  the  ark 
moved  forward,  or  stood  still,  as  Noah  would  have  it,  on  his  pro 
nouncing  only  the  words,  hi  the  name  of  (iod.  It  is  to  be  ob- 
served that  the  more  judicious  commentators  make  the  dimension** 
of  the  ark  to  be  the  same  with  those  assigned  by  Moses  :  Not- 
withstanding, others  have  enlarged  them  most  extravagantly,  as 
some  Christian  writers  have  also  done.  They  likewise  tell  us  that 
Noah  was  two  years  in  building  the  ark,  which  was  framed  of 
Indian  plane-tree,  that  it  was  divided  into  three  stories,  of  which 
the  lower  was  designed  for  the  beasts,  the  middle  one  for  the  men 
and  women,  and  the  upper  for  the  birds;  and  that  the  men  were 
separated  from  the  women  by  the  body  of  Adam,  which  Noah  had 


496  APPENDIX. 

taken  into  the  ark.  This  last  is  a  tradition  of  the  eastern  Chris- 
tians, some  of  whom  pretend  that  the  matrimonial  duty  was 
superseded  and  suspended  during  the  time  Noah  and  his  family 
were  in  the  ark;  though  Hani  has  been  accused  of  not  observing 
continency  on  that  occasion,  his  wife,  it  seems,  bringing  forth 
Caanan  in  the  very  ark. 

Page  196:  (1).  This  mountain  is  one  of  those  which  divide 
Armenia,  on  the  south,  from  Mesopotamia,  and  that  part  of 
Assyria  which  is  inhabited  by  the  Curds,  from  whom  the  moun- 
tains took  the  name  of  Cardu,  or  Gardu,  by  the  Greeks  turned  into 
Gordyaei,  and  other  names.  Mount  al  Judi  (which  name  seems  to 
be  a  corruption,  though  it  be  constantly  so  written  by  the  Arabs, 
for  Jordi,  or  Giordi)  is  also  called  Thamanin,  probably  from  a 
town  at  the  foot  of  it,  so  named  from  the  number  of  persons  saved 
in  the  ark,  the  word  thamanin  signifying  eighty,  and  overlooks 
the  country  of  Diyar  Rabiah,  near  the  cities  of  Mawsel,  Forda,  and 
Jazirat  Ebn  Omar,  which  last  place  one  affirms  to  be  but  four 
miles  from  the  place  of  the  ark,  and  says  that  a  Mohammedan 
temple  was  built  there  with  the  remains  of  that  vessel,  by  the 
Khalif  Omar  Ebn  Abd'alaziz,  whom  he  by  mistake  calls  Omar  Ebn 
al  Khattab.  The  tradition  which  affirms  the  ark  to  have  rested 
on  these  mountains,  must  have  been  very  ancient,  since  it  is  the 
tradition  of  the  Chaldeans  themselves  ;  the  Chaldee  paraphrasts 
consent  to  their  opinion,  which  obtained  very  much  formerly,  es- 
pecially among  the  eastern  Christians.  To  confirm  it,  we  are  told 
that  the  remainders  of  the  ark  were  to  be  seen  on  the  Gordysean 
mountains  :  Berosus  and  Abydenus  both  declare  there  was  such  a 
report  in  their  time;  the  first  observing  that  several  of  the  inhabi- 
tants thereabouts  scraped  the  pitch  off  the  planks  as  a  rarity,  and 
carried  it  about  them  for  an  amulet  :  and  the  latter  saying  that 
they  used  the  wood  of  the  vessel  against  many  diseases  with  won- 
derful success.  The  relics  of  the  ark  were  also  to  be  seen  here 
in  the  time  of  Epiphanius,  if  we  may  believe  him  ;  and  we  are 
told  the  emperor  Heraclius  went  from  the  town  of  Thamanin  up 
to  the  mountain  al  Jfidi,  and  saw  the  place  of  the  ark.  There 
was  also  formerly  a  famous  monastery,  called  the  monastery  of 
the  ark,  upon  some  of  these  mountains,  where  the  Nestorians  used 
to  celebrate  a  feast  day  on  the  spot  where  they  supposed  the  ark 
rested;  but  in  the  year  of  Christ  776,  that  monastery  was  destroyed 
by  lightning,  with  the  church,  and  a  numerous  congregation  in  it. 
Since  which  time  it  seems  the  credit  of  this  tradition  hath  de- 
clined, and  given  place  to  another,  which  obtains  at  present,  and 
according  to  which  the  ark  rested  on  Mount  Masis,  in  Armenia, 
called  by  the  Turks  Aghir  dagh,  or  the  heavy  or  great  mountain, 
and  situate  about  twelve  leagues  south-east  of  Erivan. 

(2).  The  Mohammedans  say  that  Noah  went  into  the  ark  on 
the  teoth  of  Rajeb,  and  came  out  of  it  the  tenth  of  al  Moharram, 
which  therefore  became  a  fast.  So  that  the  whole  time  of  Noah's 
being  m  the  ark,  according  to  ihein,  was  six  months. 


APPENDIX.  497 

Page  198:  (1).  These  were  the  angels  who  were  sent  to  ac- 
quaint Abraham  with  the  promise  of  Isaac,  and  to  destroy  Sodom 
and  Gomorrah.  Some  of  the  commentators  pretend  they  were 
twelve,  or  nine,  or  ten  in  number;  but  others,  agreeably  to  scrip- 
ture, say  they  were  but  three,  viz.,  Gabriel,  Michael  and  Israfil 

(2).  This  seems  to  be  the  true  sense  of  the  passage;  but  accord- 
ing to  a  different  reading  of  the  vowel,  some  interpret  it,  Kxeept 
thy  wife;  the  meaning  being  that  Lot  is  here  commanded  to  take 
his  family  with  him  JSxcept  his  wife.  Wherefore  the  commenta- 
tors cannot  agree  whether  Lot's  wife  went  forth  with  him  or  not ; 
some  denying  it,  and  pretending  that  she  was  left  behind  and 
perished  in  the  common  destruction  ;  and  others  affirming  it,  and 
saying  that  when  she  heard  the  noise  of  the  storm  and  over- throw 
of  the  cities,  she  turned  back  lamenting  their  fate,  and  was  imme- 
diately struck  down  and  killed  by  one  of  the  stones  mentioned  a 
little  lower.  A  punishment  she  justly  merited  for  her  infidelity 
and  disobedience  to  her  husband. 

Page  200:  (1).  This  is  not  to  be  strictly  understood  as  if  either 
the  punishment  of  the  damned  should  have  an  end,  or  the  heav- 
ens and  the  earth  should  endure  forever;  tbe  expression  being 
only  used  by  way  of  image  or  comparison,  which  need  not  agree 
in  every  point  with  the  thing  signified.  Some,  however,  think 
the  future  heavens  and  earth,  into  which  the  present  shall  be 
changed,  are  here  meant. 

Page  203  :  (1).  This  well,  say  some,  was  a  certain  well  near 
Jerusalem,  or  not  far  from  the  river  Jordan;  but  others  call  it  the 
well  of  Egypt  or  Midian.  The  commentators  tell  us  that,  when 
the  sons  of  Jacob  had  gotten  Joseph  with  them  in  the  field,  they 
began  to  abuse  and  to  beat  him  so  unmercifully,  that  they  had 
killed  him,  had  not  Judah,  on  his  crying  out  for  help,  insisted  on 
the  promise  they  had  made  not  to  kill  him,  but  to  cast  him  into 
the  well.  Whereupon  they  let  him  down  a  little  way;  but,  as  he 
held  by  the  sides  of  the  well,  they  bound  him,  and  took  off  his 
inner  garment,  designing  to  stain  it  with  blood,  to  deceive  their 
father.  Joseph  begged  hard  to  have  his  garment  returned  him, 
but  to  no  purpose,  his  brothers  telling  him,  with  a  sneer,  that  the 
eleven  stars  and  the  sun  and  the  moon  might  clothe  him  and  keep 
him  company.  When  they  had  let  him  down  half-way,  they  let 
him  fall  thence  to  the  bottom,  and,  there  being  water  in  the  well 
(though  the  scripture  says  the  contrary),  he  was  obliged  to  get 
upon  a  stone,  on  which,  as  he  stood  weeping,  the  angel  («ul>riel 
came  to  him  with  the  revelation  mentioned  immediately. 

(2).  His  name  was  Kitfir,  or  Itfir  (a  corruption  of  Potiphar); 
and  he  was  a  man  of  great  consideration,  being  superintendent  of 
the  royal  treasury.  The  commentators  say  that  Joseph  came  into 
his  service  at  seventeen,  and  lived  with  him  thirteen  years  ;  and 
that  he  was  made  prime  minister  in  the  thirty-third  yeur  <>i  his 
age,  and  died  at  a  hundred  and  twenty.  They  who  suppose 
Joseph  was  twice  sold  differ  as  to  the  price  the  Egyptian  paid  tot 


498  APPENDIX. 

him;  some  saying  it  was  twenty  dinars  of  gold,  a  pair  of  shoes, 
and  two  white  garments;  and  others,  that  it  was  a  large  quantity 
of  silver  or  gold. 

Page  204:  (1).  Through  extreme  surprise  at  the  wonderful 
beauty  of  Joseph;  which  surprise  Zoleikha  fore-seeing,  put 
knives  into  their  hands,  on  purpose  that  this  accident  might 
happen.  Some  writers  have  observed,  on  occasion  of  this  pas- 
sage, that  it  is  customary  in  the  east  for  lovers  to  testify  the 
violence  of  their  passion  by  cutting  themselves,  as  a  sign  that  they 
would  spend  their  blood  in  the  service  of  the  person  beloved ; 
which  is  true  enough,  but  I  do  not  find  that  any  of  the  commen- 
tators suppose  these  Egyptian  ladies  had  any  such  design. 

Page  205:  (1).  Notwithstanding  what  some  ancient  authors  write 
to  the  contrary,  it  often  rains  in  winter  in  the  lower  Egypt,  and 
even  snow  has  been  observed  to  fall  at  Alexandria,  contrary  to  the 
express  assertion  of  Seneca.  In  the  upper  Egypt,  indeed,  toward 
the  cataracts  of  Nile,  it  rains  very  seldom.  Some,  however,  sup- 
pose that  the  rains  here  mentioned  are  intended  of  those  which 
should  fall  in  Ethiopia,  and  occasion  the  swelling  of  the  Nile, 
the  great  cause  of  the  fertility  of  Egypt  ;  or  else  of  those  which 
should  fall  in  the  neighboring  countries,  which  were  also  afflicted 
with  famine  during  the  same  time. 

Page  206:  (1).  The  commentators  say  that  Joseph  being  taken 
out  of  prison,  after  he  had  washed  and  changed  his  clothes,  was 
introduced  to  the  king,  whom  he  saluted  in-  the  Hebrew  tongue, 
and  on  the  king's  asking  what  language  that  was,  he  answered 
that  it  was  the  language  of  his  fathers.  This  prince,  they  say, 
understood  no  less  than  seventy  languages,  in  every  one  of  which 
he  discoursed  with  Joseph,  who  answered  him  in  the  same  ;  at 
which  the  king  greatly  marveling,  desired  him  to  relate  hib 
dream,  which  he  did,  describing  the  most  minute  circumstances  : 
whereupon  the  king  placed  Joseph  by  him  on  his  throne,  and 
made  him  his  Wazir,  or  chief  minister.  Some  say  that  his  master 
Kitfir  dying  about  this  time,  he  not  only  succeeded  him  in  his 
place,  but,  by  the  king's  command,  married  the  widow,  his  late 
mistress,  whom  he  found  to  be  a  virgin,  and  who  bare  him  Eph- 
raim  and  Manasses.  So  that  according  to  this  tradition,  she  was 
the  same  woman  who  is  called  Asenath  by  Moses.  This  supposed 
marriage,  which  authorized  their  amours,  probably  encouraged 
the  Mohammedan  divines  to  make  use  of  the  loves  of  Joseph  and 
Zoleikha,  as  an  allegorical  emblem  of  the  spiritual  love  between 
the  Creator  and  the  creature,  God  and  the  soul;  just  as  the  Chris- 
tians apply  the  Song  of  Solomon  to  the  same  mystical  purpose. 

Page  208:  (1).  The  occasion  of  this  suspicion,  it  is  said,  was, 
that  Joseph  having  been  brought  up  by  his  father's  sister,  she  be- 
came so  fond  of  him  that,  when  he  grew  up,  and  Jacob  designed 
to  take  him  from  her,  she  contrived  the  following  stratagem  to 
keep  him:  Having  a  girdle  which  had  once  belonged  to  Abraham, 
she  girt  it  about  the  child,  and  then,  pretending  she  had  lost  it, 


APPENDIX.  499 

caused  strict  search  to  be  made  for  it;  and  it  being  at  length  found 
on  Joseph,  he  was  adjudged,  according  to  the  law  of  the  family, 
to  be  delivered  to  her  as  her  property.  Some,  however,  say  that 
Joseph  actually  stole  an  idol  of  gold,  which  belonged  to  his  moth- 
er's father,  and  destroyed  it;  a  story  probably  taken  from  Rachel's 
stealing  the  images  of  Laban:  and  others  tell  us  that  he  once  stole 
a  goat,  or  a  hen,  to  give  to  a  poor  man. 

Page  209:  (1).  viz.,  His  father  and  Leah,  his  mother's  sister, 
whom  he  looked  on  as  his  mother  after  Rachel's  death.  Al  Beidawi 
tells  us  that  Joseph  sent  carriages  and  provisions  for  his  fathei 
and  his  family  ;  and  that  he  and  the  king  of  Egypt  went  forth  to 
meet  them.  He  adds  that  the  number  of  the  children  of  Israel 
who  entered  Egypt  with  him  was  seventy-two  ;  and  that  when 
they  were  led  out  thence  by  Moses,  they  were  increased  to  six 
hundred  thousand  five  hundred  and  seventy  men  and  upwards, 
besides  the  old  people  and  children. 

Page  211:  (1).  The  cottar  here  mentioned  is  an  engine  some- 
thing like  a  pillory,  but  light  enough  for  the  criminal  to  walk 
about  with.  Besides  the  hole  to  fix  it  on  the  neck,  there  is  an- 
otlier  for  one  of  the  hands,  which  is  thereby  fastened  to  the  neck. 
And  in  this  manner  the  Mohammedans  suppose  the  reprobates  will 
appear  at  the  day  of  judgment.  Some  understand  this  passage 
figuratively,  of  the  infidels  being  bound  in  the  chains  of  error  and 
obstinacy. 

Page  212:  (1).  This  passage  was  revealed  on  the  following  oc- 
casion: Amer  Ebn  al  Tofail  and  Arbad  Ebn  Rabiah,  the  brother 
of  Labid,  went  to  Mohammed  with  an  intent  to  kill  him  ;  and 
Amer  began  to  dispute  with  him  concerning  the  chief  points  of 
his  doctrine,  while  Arbad,  taking  a  compass,  went  behind  him  to 
dispatch  him  with  his  sword;  but  the  prophet,  perceiving  his  de- 
sign, implored  God's  protection  ;  whereupon  Arbad  was  imme- 
diately struck  dead  by  thunder,  and  Amer  was  struck  with  a 
pestilential  boil,  of  which  he  died  in  a  short  time,  in  a  miserable 
condition.  Jallalo'ddin,  however,  tells  another  story  saying  that 
Mohammed,having  sent  one  to  invite  a  certain  man  to  embrace  his 
religion,  the  person  put  this  question  to  the  missionary,  Who  is 
this  apostle,  and  what  is  God?  Is  he  oj  gold,  or  of  silver,  or  of 
brass?  Upon  which  a  thunderbolt  struck  off  his  skull,  and  killed 
him. 

Page  214:  (1).  These  are  miracles  which  the  Koreish  required 
of  Mohammed  ;  demanding  that  he  would,  by  the  power  of  his 
Koran,  either  remove  the  mountains  from  about  Mecca,  that  they 
might  have  delicious  gardens  in  their  room,  or  that  he  would 
oblige  the  wind  to  transport  them,  with  their  merchandise,  to 
Syria  (according  to  which  tradition,  the  words  here  translated,  or 
the  earth  cleaved  in  sunder, should  be  rendered, or  the  earth  be  trav- 
eled over  in  an  instant);  or  else  raise  to  life  Kosai  Ebn  Kelab,  and 
others  of  their  ancestors,  to  bear  witness  to  him  ;  whereupon  this 
passage  was  revealed. 


500  APPENDIX. 

Page  215:  (1).  Literally,  tJie  motlier  of  the  book;  by  which  is 
meant  the  preserved  table,  from  which  all  the  written  revelations 
which  have  been  from  time  to  time  published  to  mankind,  accord- 
ing to  the  several  dispensations,  are  transcripts. 

Page  218:  (1).  What  is  particularly  intended  in  this  passage 
by  the  good  word,  and  the  evil  word,  the  expositors  differ.  But 
the  first  seems  to  mean  the  profession  of  God's  unity;  the  inviting 
others  to  the  true  religion,  or  the  Koran  itself  ;  and  the  latter,  the 
acknowledging  a  plurality  of  gods,  the  seducing  of  others  to 
idolatry,  or  the  obstinate  opposition  of  God's  prophets. 

Page  219:  (1).  i.e.,  Ismael  and  his  posterity.  The  Mohamme- 
dans say,  that  Hagar,  his  mother,  belonged  to  Sarah,  who  gave 
Aer  to  Abraham;  and  that,  on  her  bearing  him  this  son,  Sarah  be- 
came so  jealous  of  her,  that  she  prevailed  on  her  husband  to  turn 
them  both  out  of  doors  ;  whereupon  he  sent  them  to  the  territory 
of  Mecca,  where  God  caused  the  fountain  of  Zemzem  to  spring 
forth  for  their  relief,  in  consideration  of  which  the  Jorhamites, 
who  were  the  masters  of  the  country,  permitted  them  to  settle 
among  them. 

(2).  Abraham  put  up  this  petition  to  God  before  he  knew  that 
his  parents  were  the  enemies  of  God.  Some  suppose  his  mother 
was  a  true  believer,  and  therefore  read  it  in  the  singular,  and  my 
father.  Others  fancy  that  by  his  parents  the  patriarch  here  means 
Adam  and  Eve. 

(3).  This  the  Mohammedans  suppose  will  come  to  pass  at  the 
last  day  ;  the  earth  becoming  white  and  even,  or,  as  some  will 
have  it,  of  silver;  and  the  heavens  of  gold. 

Page  220:  (1).  For  the  Mohammedans  imagine  that  the  devils 
endeavor  to  ascend  to  the  constellations,  to  pry  into  the  actions 
and  overhear  the  discourse  of  the  inhabitants  of  Heaven ,  and  to 
tempt  them.  They  also  pretend  that  these  evil  spirits  had  the 
liberty  of  entering  any  of  the  heavens  till  the  birth  of  Jesus,jwhen 
they  were  excluded  three  of  them  ;  but  that  on  the  birth  of  Mo- 
hammed they  were  forbidden  the  other  four. 

Page  225:  (1).  The  Mohammedans  suppose  that  the  earth, 
when  first  created,  was  smooth  and  equal,  and  thereby  liable  to  a 
circular  motion  as  well  as  the  celestial  orbs  ;  and  that  the  angels 
asking,  who  could  be  able  to  stand  on  so  tottering  a  frame,  God 
fixed  it  the  next  morning  by  throwing  the  mountains  on  it. 

(2).  Some  understand  this  passage  figuratively,  of  God's  disap- 
pointing their  wicked  designs;  but  others  suppose  the  words  liter- 
ally relate  to  the  tower  which  Nimrod  (whom  the  Mohammedans 
Avill  have  to  be  the  son  of  Caanan,  the  son  of  Ham,  and  so  the 
nephew  of  Cush,  and  not  his  son)  built  in  Babel,  and  carried  to  an 
immense  height  (five  thousand  cubits,  say  some),  foolishly  pur- 
posing thereby  to  ascend  to  Heaven  and  wage  war  with  the  inhabi- 
tants of  that  place;  but  God  frustrated  his  attempt,  utterly  over 
throwing  the  tower  by  a  violent  wind  and  earthquake. 


APPENDIX.  501 

Page  229:  (1).  The  same  being  not  only  good  food,  but  a  use- 
ful remedy  in  several  distempers,  particularly  those  occasioned  by 
phlegm.  There  is  a  story,  that  a  man  came  once  to  Mohammed, 
and  told  him  that  his  brother  was  afflicted  with  a  violent  pain  in 
his  belly:  upon  which  the  prophet  bade  him  give  him  some 
honey.  The  fellow  took  his  advice  ;  but  soon  after  coming  again, 
told  him  that  the  medicine  had  done  his  brother  no  manner  of 
service:  Mohammed  answered,  Go  and  give  him  more  honey,  for 
God  speaks  truth,  and  thy  brot/ier's  belly  lien.  And  the  dose  being 
repeated,  the  man.  by  God's  mercy,  was  immediately  cured. 

Page  230:  (1).  ^  This  verse,  which  was  the  occasion  of  the  con- 
version of  Othman  Ebn  Matun,  the  commentators  say,  containeth 
the  whole  which  it  is  a  man's  duty  either  to  perform  or  to  avoid  ; 
and  is  alone  a  sufficient  demonstration  of  what  is  said  in  the  fore- 
going verse.  Under  the  three  things  here  commanded,  they  un- 
derstand the  belief  of  God's  unity,  without  inclining  to  atheism, 
on  the  one  hand,  or  polytheism,  on  the  other :  obedience  to  the 
commands  of  God  ;  and  charity  toward  those  in  distress.  And 
under  the  three  things  forbidden,  they  comprehend  all  corrupt 
and  carnal  affections ;  all  false  doctrines  and  heretical  opinions  ; 
and  all  injustice  toward  man. 

Page  233:  (1).  This  was  a  great  objection  made  by  the  Meccans 
to  the  authority  of  the  Koran;  for  when  Mohammed  insisted,  as  a 
proof  of  its  divine  original,  that  it  was  impossible  a  man  so  ut- 
terly unacquainted  with  learning  as  himself  could  compose  such  a 
book,  they  replied,  that  he  had  one  or  more  assistants  in  the  for- 
gery ;  but  as  to  the  particular  person  or  persons  suspected  of  this 
confederacy,  the  traditions  differ.  One  says  it  was  Jabar,  a  Greek, 
servant  to  AmerEbn  al  Uadrami,  who  could  read  and  write  well  ; 
another,  that  they  were  Jabar  and  Yesar,  two  slaves  who  followed 
the  trade  of  sword-cutters  at  Mecca,  and  used  to  read  the  penta- 
teuch  and  gospel,  and  had  often  Mohammed  for  their  auditor, 
when  he  passed  that  way.  Another  tells  us,  it  was  one  ATsh.  or 
Yaish,  a  domestic  of  al  Uaweiteb  Ebn  Abd  al  Uzza,  who  was  a 
man  of  some  learning,  and  had  embraced  Mohammedism.  An- 
other supposes  it  was  one  Kais,  a  Christian,  whose  house  Mo- 
hammed frequented  ;  another,  that  it  was  Addas,  a  ser- 
vant of  Otba  Ebn  Rabia  ;  and  another,  that  it  was  Salman  the 
Persian.  According  to  some  Christian  writers,  Abdallah  Ebn 
Salam,  the  Jew  who  was  so  intimate  with  Mohammed  (named  by 
one,  according  to  the  Hebrew  dialect,  Abdias  Ben  Salon  and  by 
another.  Abdala  Celeu),  was  assisting  to  him  in  the  compiling  his 
pretended  revelations.  This  Jew  Dr.  Prideaux  confounds  with 
Salman  the  Persian,  who  was  a  very  different  man,  as  a  late 
author  has  observed  before  me  ;  wherefore,  and  for  that  we  may 
have  occasion  to  speak  of  Salman  hereafter,  it  may  be  proper  to 
add  a  brief  extract  of  his  story  as  told  by  himself.  He  was  of  • 
good  family  of  Ispahan,  and,  in  his  younger  years,  left  the  religio* 
of  his  country  to  embrace  Christianity  ;  and  traveling  int 


502  APPENDIX. 

was  advised  by  a  certain  monk  of  Amuria  to  go  into  Arabia, 
where  a  prophet  was  expected  to  arise  about  that  time,  who  should 
establish  the  religion  of  Abraham  ;  and  whom  he  should  know 
among  other  things,  by  the  seal  of  prophecy  between  his  shoul- 
ders.  Salman  perfor:ned  the  journey,  and  meeting  with.  Moham- 
med at  Koba,  where  he  rested  in  his  night  to  Medina,  soon  found 
him  to  be  the  person  he  sought,  and  professed  Islam.  The  general 
opinion  of  the  Christians,however,is,that  the  chief  help  Mohammed 
had  in  the  contriving  his  Koran,  was  from  a  Nestorian  monk 
named  Sergius,  supposed  to  be  the  same  person  with  the  monk 
Boheira,  with  whom  Mohammed  in  his  younger  years  had  some 
conference,  at  Bosra,  a  city  of  Syria  Damascena,  where  that  monk 
resided.  To  confirm  which  supposition,  a  passage  has  been  pro- 
duced from  an  Arab  writer,  who  says  that  Boheira' s  name  in  the 
books  of  the  Christians.is  Sergius;  but  this  is  only  a  conjecture;  and 
another  tells  us,  his  true  name  was  Sai'd,  or  Felix,  and  his  sur- 
name Boheira.  But  be  that  as  it  will,  if  Boheira  and  Sergius 
were  the  same  man,  I  find  not  the  least  intimation  in  the  Moham- 
medan writers  that  he  ever  quitted  his  monastery  to  go  into 
Arabia  (as  is  supposed  by  the  Christians);  and  his  acquaintance 
with  Mohammed  at  Bosra  was  too  early  to  favor  the  surmise  of 
his  assisting  him  in  the  Koran,  which  was  composed  long  after  ; 
though  Mohammed  might,  from  his  discourse,  gain  some  ;knowl- 
edge  of  Christianity  and  of  the  scriptures,  which  might  be  of  use 
to  him  therein.  From  the  answer  given  in  this  passage  of  the 
Koran  to  the  objection  of  the  infidels,  viz.,  that  the  person  sus- 
pected by  them  to  have  a  hand  in  the  Koran  spoke  a  foreign  lan- 
guage, and  therefore  could  not,  with  any  face  of  probability,  be 
supposed  to  assist  in  a  composition  written  in  the  Arabic  tongue, 
and  with  so  great  elegance,  it  is  plain  this  person  was  no  Arabian. 
The  word  Ajami,  which  is  here  used,  signifies  any  foreign  or  bar' 
barous  language  in  general;  but  the  Arabs  applying  it  more  par. 
ticularly  to  the  Persian,  it  has  been  thence  concluded  by  some 
that  Salman  was  the  person;  however,  if  it  be  true  that  he  came 
not  to  Mohammed  till  after  the  Hejra,  either  he  could  not  be  the 
man  here  intended,  or  else  this  verse  must  have  been  revealed  at 
Medina,  contrary  to  the  common  opinion. 

(2).  These  words  were  added  for  the  sake  of  Ammar 
Ebn  Yaser,  and  some  others,  who  being  taken  and  tortured  by  the 
Koreish,  renounced  their  faith  out  of  fear,  though  their  hearts 
agreed  not  with  their  mouths.  It  seems  Ammar  wanted  the  con- 
stancy of  his  father  and  mother,  Yaser,  and  Sommeya,  who  under- 
went the  like  trial  at  the  same  time  with  their  son ,  and  resolutely 
refusing  to  recant,  were  both  put  to  death,  the  infidels  tying  Som- 
meya between  two  camels,  and  striking  a  lance  through  her  privy 
parts.  When  news  was  brought  to  Mohammed,  that  Ammar  had 
denied  the  faith,  he  said,  it  could  not  be,  for  that  Ammar  was  full 
of  faith  from  the  crown  of  his  head  to  the  soul  of  his  foot,  faith 
being  mixed  and  incorporated  with  his  very  flesh  and  blood  ;  and 
when  Ammar  himself  came  weeping  to  the  prophet,  he  wiped 


APPENDIX.  503 

his  eyes,  saying,  What  fault  was  it  of  thine,  if  they  forced  thcef 
But  though  it  be  here  said,  that  those  who  apostatize  in  appear- 
ance only,  to  avoid  death  or  torments,  may  hope  for  pardon  from 
God,  yet  it  is  unanimously  agreed  by  the  Mohammedan  doctors, 
to  he  much  more  meritorious  and  pleasing  in  the  sight  of  God, 
courageously  and  nobly  to  persist  in  the  true  faith,  and  rather  to 
suffer  death  itself  than  renounce  it,  even  in  words.  Nor  did  the 
Mohammedan  religion  want  its  martyrs,  in  the  strict  sense  of  the 
word;  of  which  I  will  here  give  two  instances,  besides  the  above- 
mentioned.  One  is  that  of  Khobaib  Ebn  Ada,  who  being  perfidi- 
ously  sold  to  the  Koreish,  was  by  them  put  to  death  in  a  cruel 
manner,  hy  mutilation,  and  cutting  off  his  flesh  piece-meal ;  and 
being  asked,  in  the  midst  of  his  tortures,  whether  he  did  not  wish 
Mohammed  was  in  his  place,  answered  /  would  not  wish  to  be  with 
my  family,  my  substance,  and  my  children,  on  condition  that  Mo- 
hammed was  only  to  be  pricked  with  a  thorn.  The  other  is  that  of 
a  man  who  was  put  to  death  by  Moseilama,  on  the  following  occa- 
sion. That  false  prophet  having  taken  two  of  Mohammed's 
followers,  asked  one  of  them,  what  he  said  of  Mohammed '!  the 
man  answered,  That  he  was  the  apostle  of  God:  And  what  sayest 
thou  of  me?  added  Moseilama;  to  which  he  replied,  Thou  also  art 
the  apostle  of  Ood  ;  whereupon  he  was  immediately  dismissed  in 
safety.  But  the  other,  having  returned  the  same  answer  to  the 
former  question,  refused  to  give  any  to  the  last,  though  required 
to  do  it  three  several  times,  but  pretended  to  be  deaf,  and  was 
therefore  slain.  It  is  related  that  Mohammed,  when  the  story  of 
these  two  men  was  told  him,  said,  'Die,  first  of  them  threw  himxclf 
on  God's  mercy;  but  the  latter  professed  the  truth  ;  and  he  shall 
find  his  account  in  it. 

Page  233:  (1).  These  were  the  Jews  ;  who  being  ordered  by 
Moses  to  set  apart  Friday  (the  day  now  observed  by  the  Moliara- 
medans)  for  the  exercise  of  divine  worship,  refused  it,  and  chose 
the  sabbath-day,  because  on  that  day  God  rested  from  his  works  of 
creation;  for  which  reason  they  were  commanded  to  keep  the  day 
they  had  chosen  in  the  strictest  manner. 

Page  234:  (1).  Their  first  transgression  was  their  rejecting  the 
decisions  of  the  law,  their  putting  Isaiah  to  death,  and  their  im- 
prisoning of  Jeremiah  :  and  the  second,  was  their  slaying  of 
Zachariah,  and  John  the  Baptist,  and  their  imagining  the  di-nth 
of  Jesus. 

(2).  Some  imagine  the  army  meant  in  this  place  was  that  of 
Bakhtnasr ;  but  others  say  the  Persians  conquered  the  Jews  this 
second  time,  by  the  arms  of  Gudarz  (by  whom  they  seem  to  in- 
tend Antiochus  Epiphanes),  one  of  the  successors  of  Alexander  at 
Babylon.  It  is  related  that  the  general  in  this  expedition,  enter- 
ing the  temple,  saw  blood  bubbling  up  on  the  great  altar,  and  ask- 
the  reason  of  it,  the  Jews  told  him  it  was  the  blood  of  a  sacrifice 
which  had  not  b«en  accepted  of  God  ;  to  which  he  replied,  that 
they  had  not  told  him  the  truth,  and  ordered  a  thousand  of  thom 


504  APPENDIX. 

to  be  slain  on  the  altar;  but  the  blood  not  ceasing,  he  told  them 
that  if  they  would  not  confess  the  truth,  he  would  not  spare  one 
of  them;  whereupon  they  acknowledged  it  was  the  blood  of  John; 
and  the  general  said,  Thus  hath  your  Lord  taken  vengeance  on  you; 
and  then  cried  out,  0  John,  my  Lord  an<l  thy  Lord  knoweth  what 
hath  befallen  thy  people  for  thy  sake  ;  wherefore  let  thy  blood  stop, 
by  God's  permission,  lest  I  leave  not  one  of  them  alive;  upon  which 
the  blood  immediately  stopped. 

(3).  Or  inconsiderate,  not  weighing  the  consequence  of  what  he 
asks.  It  is  said  that  the .  person  here  meant  is  Adam,  who,  when 
the  breath  of  life  was  breathed  into  his  nostrils,  and  had  reached 
so  far  as  his  navel,  though  the  lower  part  of  his  body  was,  as  yet, 
but  a  piece  of  clay,  must  needs  try  to  rise  up,  and  got  an  ugly  fall 
by  the  bargain.  But  others  pretend  the  passage  was  revealed  on 
the  following  occasion.  Mohammed  committed  a  certain  captive 
to  the  charge  of  his  wife,  Sawda  bint  Zaniaa,  who,  moved  with 
compassion  at  the  man's  groans,  unbound  him,  and  let  him  escape: 
upon  which  the  prophet,  in  the  first  motions  of  his  anger,  wished 
her  hand  might  fall  off;  but  immediately  composing  himself,  said 
aloud,  O  (Jod,  I  am  but  a  man  :  therefore  turn  my  curse  into  a 
blessing. 

Page  235:  (1).  Literally,  the  bird,  which  IB  here  used  to  signify 
a  in an's  fortune  or  success  ;  the  Arabs,  as  well  as  the  Greeks  and 
Romans,  taking  omens  from  the  flight  of  birds,  which  they  sup- 
posed to  portend  good  luck,  if  they  flew  from  the  left  to  the  right, 
but  if  from  the  right  to  the  left,  the  contrary  ;  the  like  judgment 
they  also  made  when  certain  beasts  passed  before  them. 

Page  236:  (1).  Prodigality,  and  squandering  away  one's  sub- 
stance in  folly  or  luxury,  being  a  very  great  sin.  The  Arabs  were 
particularly  guilty  of  extravagance  in  killing  camels,  and  dis- 
tributing them  by  lot,  merely  out  of  vanity  and  ostentation;  which 
they  are  forbidden  by  this  passage,  and  commanded  to  bestow 
what  they  could  spare  on  their  poor  relations,  and  other  indigent 
people. 

Page  239:  (1).  These  are  generally  supposed  to  have  been  the 
tribe  of  Thakif,  the  inhabitants  of  al  Tayef,  who  insisted  on  Mo- 
hammed's granting  them  several  very  extraordinary  privileges,  as 
fche  terms  of  their  submission  to  him  ;  for  they  demanded  that 
they  might  be  free  from  the  legal  contribution  of  alms,  and  from 
observing  the  appointed  times  of  prayer  ;  that  they  might  be  al- 
lowed to  keep  their  idol  A  Hat  for  a  certain  time,  and  that  their 
territory  might  be  declared  a  place  of  security  and  not  be  violated, 
like  that  of  Mecca,  etc.  And  they  added,  that  if  the  other  Arabs 
asked  him  the  reason  of  these  concessions,  he  should  say,  that 
God  had  commanded  him  so  to  do.  According  to  which  explica- 
tion it  is  plain  this  verse  must  have  been  revealed  long  after  the 
Hejra. 

Page  241:  (1).  These  were,  the  changing  his  rod  into  a  serpent, 
the  making  his  hand  white  ami  shining,  the  producing  locusts, 


APPENDIX.  505 

Uce,  frogs  and  blood,  the  dividing  of  the  Red  Sea,  the  bringing 
water  out  of  the  rock,  and  the  shaking  of  Mount  Sinai  over  the 
children  of  Israel.  In  lieu  of  the  three  last  some  reckon  the  inun- 
dation of  the  Nile,  the  blasting  of  the  corn,  and  scarcity  of  the 
fruits  of  the  earth.  These  words,  however,  are  interpreted  by 
others,  not  of  nine  miracles,  but  of  nine  commandments,  which 
Moses  gave  his  people,  and  were  thus  numbered  up  by  Mohammed 
himself  to  a  Jew,  who  asked  him  the  question,  viz.,  That  they 
r.hould  not  be  guilty  of  idolatry,  nor  steal, nor  commit  adultery  or 
murder,  nor  practice  sorcery  or  usury,  nor  accuse  au  innocent  man 
to  take  away  his  life,  or  a  modest  woman  of  whoredom,  nor  desert 
the  army;  to  which  he  added  the  observing  of  the  sabbath,  as  a 
tenth  commandment,  but  which  peculiarly  regarded  the  Jews : 
upon  which  answer,  it  is  said,  the  Jew  kissed  the  prophet's  hands 
and  feet. 

Page  242:  (1).  These  were  certain  Christian  youths,  of  a  good 
family  in  Ephesus,  who,  to  avoid  the  persecution  of  the  Emperor 
Decius,  by  the  Arab  writers  called  Decianus,  hid  themselves  in  a 
cave,  where  they  slept  for  a  great  number  of  years.  This  apocry- 
phal story  (for  Baronius  treats  it  as  no  better,  and  Father  Marracci 
acknowledges  it  to  be  partly  false,  or  at  least  doubtful,  though  he 
calls  Hottinger  a  monster  of  impiety ,  and  the  off-acum  of /teretics, 
for  terming  it  a  fable),  was  borrowed  by  Mohammed  from  the 
Christian  traditions,  but  has  been  embellished  by  him  and  his  fol- 
lowers with  several  additional  circumstances.  What  is  meant  by 
al  Kakin  the  commentators  cannot  agree.  Some  will  have  it  to 
be  the  name  of  the  mountain,  or  the  valley,  wherein  the  cave 
was ;  some  say  it  was  the  name  of  their  dog ;  and  others  (who 
seem  to  come  nearest  the  true  signification)  that  it  was  a  brass 
plate,  or  stone  table,  placed  near  the  mouth  of  the  cave,  on  which 
the  names  of  the  youngmen  were  written.  There  are  some,  how- 
ever, who  take  the  companions  of  al  Rakfn  to  be  different  from 
the  seven  sleepers;  for  they  say  the  former  were  three  men  who  were 
driven  by  ill  weather  into  a  cave  for  shelter,  and  were  shut  in  there 
by  the  falling  down  of  a  vast  stone,  which  stopped  the  cave's  mouth, 
but  on  their  begging  God's  mercy,  and  their  relating  each  of  them 
a  meritorious  action  which  they  hoped  might  entitle  them  to  it, 
were  miraculously  delivered  by  the  rock's  rending  in  sunder  to 
give  them  passage. 

Page  243:  (1).  This  dog  had  followed  them  as  thev  passed  by 
him  when  they  fled  £6  the  cave,  and  they  drove  him  away ; 
whereupon  God  caused  him  to  speak,  and  he  said,  /  lore  those 
who  are  dear  unto  God;  goto  sleep  therefore,  and  I  ir>Ul  guard 
you.  But  some  say,  it  was  a  dog  belonging  to  a  shepherd  who 
followed  them,  and  that  the  dog  followed  the  shepherd  ;  which 
opinion  is  supported  by  reading,  as  some  do,  calebohom,  tin  ir 
dog's  master  instead  of  calbohom,  their  dog.  Jallalo'ddin  adds, 
that  the  dog  behaved  as  his  masters  did,  in  turning  himself,  in 
sleeping,  and  in  waking.  The  Mohammedans  have  a  great  respect 


5U6  APPENDIX. 

for  this  dog,  and  allow  him  a  place  in  paradise  with  some  other 
favorite  brutes  ;  and  they  have  a  sort  of  proverb  which  they  use 
in  speaking  of  a  covetous  person,  that  he  would  not  throw  a,  bone 
to  the  dog  of  the  seven  sleepers  ;  nay,  it  is  said  that  they  have  the 
superstition  to  write  his  name,  which  they  suppose  to  be  Katmir 
(though  some,  as  is  observed  above,  think  he  was  called  al  Rakim), 
on  their  letters  which  go  far,  or  which  pass  the  sea,  as  a  protec- 
tion, or  kind  of  talisman,  to  preserve  them  from  miscarriage. 

Page  244:  (1).  Jallalo'ddin  supposes  the  whole  space  was  three 
hundred  solar  years,  and  that  the  odd  nine  are  added  to  reduce 
them  to  lunar  years.  Some  think  these  words  are  introduced  as 
spoken  by  the  Christians,  who  differed  among  themselves  about 
the  time  ;  one  saying  it  was  three  hundred  years,  and  another, 
three  hundred  and  nine  years.  The  interval  between  the  reign 
of  Decius,  and  that  of  Theodosius  the  younger,  in  whose  time  the 
sleepers  are  said  to  have  awaked,  will  not  allow  them  to  have 
slept  quite  two  hundred  years;  though  Mohammed  is  somewhat 
excusable,  since  the  number  assigned  by  Simeon  Metaphrastes  is 
three  hundred  and  seventy-two  years. 

Page  245:  (1).  Though  these  seem  to  be  general  characters 
only,  designed  to  represent  the  different  end  of  the  wicked,  and 
of  the  good;  yet  it  is  supposed,  by  some,  that  two  particular  per- 
sons are  here  meant.  One  says  they  were  two  Israelites  and 
brothers,  who  had  a  considerable  sum  left  them  by  their  father, 
which  they  divided  between  them  ;  and  that  one  of  them,  being 
an  unbeliever,  bought  large  fields  and  possessions  with  his  portion, 
while  the  other,  who  was  a  true  believer,  disposed  of  his  to  pious 
uses  ;  but  that  in  the  end,  the  former  was  ruined,  and  the  latter 
prospered.  Another  thinks  they  were  two  men  of  the  tribe  of 
Makhzum;  the  one  named  al  Aswad  Ebn  Abd'al  Ashadd,  an  infidel; 
and  the  other  Abu  Salma  Ebn  Abd'allah,  the  husband  of  Omni 
Salma  (whom  the  prophet  married  after  his  death),  and  a  true 
believer. 

Page  247:  (1).  The  original  word  properly  signifies  the  space 
of  eighty  years  and  upward.  To  explain  this  long  passage  the 
commentators  tell  the  following  story:  They  say  that  Moses  once 
preaching  to  the  people,  they  admired  his  knowledge  and  elo- 
quence so  much,  that  they  asked  him  whether  he  knew  any  man 
in  the  world  who  was  wiser  than  himself  ;  to  which  he  answered 
in  the  negative  :  whereupon  God,  in  a  revelation,  having  repre- 
hended him  for  his  vanity  (though  some  pretend  that  Moses  asked 
God  the  question  of  his  own  accord),  acquainted  him  that  his  ser- 
vant al  Khedr  was  more  knowing  than  he;  and,  at  Moses'  request 
told  him  he  might  find  that  person  at  a  certain  rock,  where  the 
two  seas  met;  directing  him  to  take  a  fish  with  him  in  a  basket, 
and  that  where  he  missed  the  fish,  that  was  the  place.  Accord- 
ingly Moses  set  out,  with  his  servant  Joshua,  in  search  of  al 
KhfJr;  which  expedition  is  here  described. 

•?;e  248 :  (1).     Or,  the  two-horned.     The  generality  of  the 


APPENDIX.  507 

commentators  suppose  tbe  person  here  meant  to  be  Alexander  the 
Great,  or,  as  they  call  him.  Iscander  al  Kumi,  king  of  Persia  and 
Greece;  but  there  are  very  different  opinions  as  to  the  reason  of 
this  surname.  Some  think  it  was  given  him  because  he  was  king  of 
the  East  and  of  the  West,  or  because  he  had  made  expeditions  to 
both  those  extreme  parts  of  the  earth;  or  else  because  he  had  t\vo 
horns  on  his  diadem,  or  two  curls  of  hair,  like  horns,  on  his 
forehead;  or,  which  is  most  probable,  by  reason  of  his  great  valor. 
Several  modern  writers  rather  suppose  the  surname  was  occa- 
sioned by  his  being  represented  in  his  coins  and  statues  with 
horns,  as  the  son  of  Jupiter- Ammon  ;  or  else  by  his  being  com- 
pared by  the  prophet  Daniel  to  a  he-goat  ;  though  he  is  there 
represented  with  but  one  horn.  There  are  some  good  writers, 
however,  who  believe  the  prince  intended  in  this  passage  of  the 
Koran  was  not  Alexander  the  Grecian,  but  another  great  con- 
queror, who  bore  the  same  name  and  surname,  and  was  much 
more  ancient  than  he,  being  contemporary  with  Abraham,  and 
one  of  the  kings  of  Persia  of  the  first  race;  or,  as  others  suppose, 
a  king  of  Yaman,  named  Asaab  Ebn  al  Rayesh.  They  all  agree 
he  was  a  true  believer,  but  whether  he  was  a  prophet  "or  no,  is  a 
disputed  point. 

Page  249  :  (1).  The  commentators  say  the  wall  was  built  in 
this  manner.  They  dug  till  they  found  water,  and  having  laid 
the  foundation  of  stone  and  melted  brass,  they  built  the  super- 
structure of  large  pieces  of  iron,  between  which  they  laid  wood 
and  coals,  till  they  equaled  the  height  of  the  mountains  ;  and 
then  setting  fire  to  the  combustibles,  by  tbe  help  of  large  l>ellows, 
they  made  the  iron  red  hot,  and  over  it  poured  melted  brass,  which 
filling  up  the  vacancies  between  the  pieces  of  iron,  rendered  the 
whole  work  as  firm  as  a  rock.  Some  tell  us  that  the  whole  was 
built  of  stones  joined  by  clamps  of  iron,  on  which  they  poured 
melted  brass  to  fasten  them. 

Page  251:  (1).  The  palm  to  which  she  fled,  that  she  might 
lean  on  it  in  her  travail,  was  a  withered  trunk,  without  any  head 
or  verdure,  and  this  happened  in  the  winter  season;  notwithstand- 
ing which  it  miraculously  supplied  her  with  fruits  for  her  refresh- 
ment ;  as  is  mentioned  immediately.  It  has  been  observed,  that 
the  Mohammedan  account  of  the  delivery  of  the  Virgin  Mary  very 
much  resembles  that  of  Latona,  as  described  by  the  poets,  nol 
only  in  this  circumstance  of  their  laying  hold  on  a  palm-tree 
(though  some  say  Latona  embraced  an  olive-tree,  or  an  olive  and 
a  palm,  or  else  two  laurels),  but  also  in  that  of  their  infants 
speaking;  which  Apollo  is  fabled  to  have  done  in  the  womb. 

Page  252:  (1).  Thesf  v.-m-ds  are  variously  expounded  ;  some 
taking  them  to  express  admiration  at  the  quickness  of  those  senses 
in  the  wicked,  at  the  day  of  judgment,  when  they  shall  plainly 
perceive  the  torments  prepared  for  them,  though  they  have  been 
deaf  and  blind  in  this  life  ;  and  others  supposing  the  words  con- 
tain a  threat  to  the  unbelievers,  of  what  they  shall  then  hear  and 


508  APPENDIX. 

see  ;  or  else  a  command  to  Mohammed  to  lay  before  tliem  tlie  ter- 
rors of  that  day. 

Page  253:  (1).  These  are  generally  supposed  to  "have  been  the  words 
of  the  angel  Gabriel,  in  answer  to  Mohammed's  complaint  for  his 
long  delay  of  fifteen,  or,  according  to  another  tradition,  of  forty 
days,  before  he  brought  him  instructions  what,  solution  he  should 
give  to  the  questions  which  had  been  asked  him  concerning  the 
sleepers,  Dhu'lkarnein,  and  the  spirit.  Others,  however,  are  of 
the  opinion  that  they  are  the  words  which  the  godly  will  use  at 
their  entrance  into  paradise  ;  and  that  their  meaning  is,  We  take 
up  our  abode  here  at  tlie  command  and  through  the  mercy  of  God 
alone,  who  ruleth  all  things,  past,  future,  and  present ;  and  wlio  is 
not  forgetful  of  the  works  of  his  servants. 

Page  254:  (1).  For  the  true  believers  must  also  pass  by  or 
through  hell,  but  the  fire  will  be  damped  and  the  flames  abated, 
so  as  not  to  hurt  them,  though  it  will  lay  hold  on  the  others. 
Some,  however,  suppose  that  the  words  intend  no  more  than  the 
passage  over  the  narrow  bridge,  which  is  laid  over  hell. 

Page  255:  (1).  That  is,  except  he  who  shall  be  a  subject  prop- 
erly disposed  to  receive  that  favor,  by  having  possessed  Islam. 
Or,  the  words  may  also  be  translated,  according  to  another  exposi- 
tion, They  shall  not  obtain  the  intercession  of  any,  except  the  inter- 
cession of  him,  etc.  Or  else,  None  shall  be  able  to  make  interces- 
sion for  others,  except  he  who  shall  have  received  a  covenant  (or 
permission]  from  God  ;  i.e.,  who  shall  be  qualified  for  that  office 
by  faith_  and  good  works,  according  to  God's  promise,  or  shall 
have  special  leave  given  him  by  God  for  that  purpose. 

Page  256:  (1).  For  Moses  had  an  impediment  in  his  speech, 
which  was  occasioned  by  the  following  accident.  Pharaoh  one 
day  carrying  him  in  hi,«  arms,  when  a  child,  he  suddenly  laid 
hold  of  his  beard,  and  plucked  it  in  a  very  rough  manner,  which 
put  Pharaoh  into  such  a  passion,  that  he  ordered  him  to  be  put  to 
death;  but  Asia,  his  wife,  representing  to  him  that  he  was  but  a 
child,  who  could  not  distinguish  between  a  burning  coal  and  a 
ruby,  he  ordered  the  experiment  to  be  made  ;  and  a  live  coal  and 
a  ruby  being  set  before  Moses,  he  took  the  coal  and  put  it  into  his 
mouth,  and  burned  his  tongue  ;  and  thereupon  he  was  pardoned. 
This  is  a  Jewish  story  a  little  altered. 

Page  257:  (1).  The  commentators  say,  that  his  mother  accord- 
ingly made  an  ark  of  the  papyrus,  and  pitched  it,  and  put  in  some 
cotton  ;  and  having  laid  the  child  therein,  committed  it  to  the 
river,  a  branch  of  which  went  into  Pharaoh's  garden  ;  that  the 
stream  carried  the  ark  thither  into  a  fish-pond,  at  the  head  of 
which  Pharaoh  was  then  sitting,  with  his  wife  Asia,  the  daughter 
of  Mozahem;  and  that  the  king,  having  commanded  it  to  be  taken 
up  and  opened,  and  finding  in  it  a  beautiful  child,  took  a  fancy  to 
it,  and  ordered  it  to  be  brought  up.  Some  writers  mention  a 
miraculous  preservation  of  Moses  before  he  was  put  into  the  ark  ; 
and  tell  us,  that  his  mother  having  hid  him  from  Pharaoh's  offi- 


APPENDIX.  509 

cers  in  an  oven,  his  sister,  in  her  mother's  absence,  kindled  a 
large  fire  m  the  oven  to  heat  it,  not  knowing  the  child  was  there, 
but  that  he  was  afterward  taken  out  unhurt. 

Page  260:  (1).  Lest  they  infect  thee  with  a  burning  fever  ;  for 
that  was  the  consequence  of  any  man's  touching  him,  and  the 
same  happened  to  the  persons  he'  touched  ;  for  which  reason  he 
was  obliged  to  avoid  all  communication  with  others,  and  was  also 
shunned  by  them,  wandering  in  the  desert  like  a  wild  beast. 
Hence,  it  is  concluded  that  a  tribe  of  Samaritan  Jews  said  to  in- 
habit a  certain  isle  in  the  Red  Sea,  are  the  descendants  of  our  al 
Sarneri ;  because  it  is  their  peculiar  mark  of  distinction,  at  this 
day,  to  use  the  same  words,  viz..  La  mesa*,  i.e.,  Touch  me  not,  to 
those  they  meet.  It  is  not  improbable  that  this  story  may  owe  its 
rise  to  the  known  hatred  borne  by  the  Samaritans  to  the  Jews, 
and  their  superstitiously  avoiding  to  have  any  commerce  with 
them,  or  any  other  strangers. 

(2).  For  this,  with  the  Arabs,  is  one  mark  of  an  enemy,  or  a 
person  they  abominate  ;  to  say  a  man  has  a  black  liver  (though  I 
think  we  express  our  aversion  by  the  term  white-livered),  reddish 
whiskers  and  gray  eyes,  being  a  periphrasis  for  a  foe,  and  particu- 
larly a  Greek,  which  nation  were  the  most  inveterate  enemies  of 
the  Arabs,  and  have  usually  hair  and  eyes  of  those  colors.  The 
original  word,  however,  signifies  also  those  who  are  squint-eyed, 
or  even  blind  of  a  suffusion. 

Page  266:  (1).  Abraham  took  his  opportunity  to  do  this  while 
the  Chaldeans  were  abroad  in  the  fields,  celebrating  a  great  festi- 
val ;  and  some  say  he  hid  himself  in  the  temple  ;  and  when  he 
had  accomplished  his  design,  that  he  might  the  more  evidently 
convince  them  of  their  folly  in  worshiping  them,  he  hung  the  axe, 
with  which  he  had  hewn  and  broken  down  the  images,  on  tho 
neck  of  the  chief  idol,  named  by  some  writers,  Baal  ;  as  if  he  had 
been  the  author  of  all  the  mischief.  For  this  story,  which,  though 
it  be  false,  is  not  511  invented,  Mohammed  stands  indebted  to  the 
Jews  ;  who  tell  it  with  a  little  variation  ;  for  they  say  Abraham 
performed  this  exploit  in  his  father's  shop,  duting  his  absence  ; 
that  Terah,  on  his  return,  demanding  the  occasion  of  the  disorder, 
his  son  told  me  that  the  idols  had  quarreled  and  fallen  together 
by  the  ears  about  an  offering  of  fine  flour,  which  had  been 
brought  them  by  an  old  woman  ;  and  that  the  father,  finding  he 
could  not  insist  on  the  impossibility  of  what  Abraham  pretended, 
without  confessing  the  impotence  of  his  gods,  fell  into  a  violent 
passion  and  carried  him  to  Nimrod  that  he  might  be  exeinplarily 
punished  for  his  insolence. 

Page  267:  (1).  The  commentators  relate  that,  by  Nimrod's 
order,  a  large  space  was  enclosed  at  Cfltha,  and  filled  with  a  vast 
quantity  of  wood,  which  being  set  on  fire  burned  so  fiercely,  that 
none  dared  to  venture  near  it  ;  then  they  bound  Abraham,  and 
putting  him  into  an  engine  (which  some  suppose  to  have  been  of 
the  devil's  invention),  shot  him  into  the  midst  of  the  fire  ;  from 


510  APPENDIX. 

which  he  was  preserved  by  the  angel  Gabriel  who  was  sent  to  his 
assistance  ;  the  fire  burning  only  the  cords  with  which  he  was 
bound.  They  add  that  the  fire  having  miraculously  lost  its  heat, 
in  respect  to  Abraham,  became  an  odoriferous  air,  and  that  the 
pile  changed  to  a  pleasant  meadow  ;  though  it  raged  so  furiously 
otherwise,  that,  according  to  some  writers,  about  two  thousand  of 
the  idolaters  were  consumed  by  it.  This  story  seems  to  have  had 
no  other  foundation  than  that  passage  of  Moses,  where  God  is 
said  to  have  brought  Abraham  out  of  Ur,  of  the  Chaldees,  misun- 
derstood ;  which  words  the  Jews,  the  most  trifling  interpreters  of 
scripture,  and  some  moderns  who  have  followed  them,  have 
translated,  out  of  the  fire  of  the  Chaldees;  taking  the  word  J7r,  not 
for  the  proper  name  of  a  city,  as  it  really  is,  but  for  an  appellative, 
signifying  fire.  However,  it  is  a  fable  of  some  antiquity,  and 
credited,  not  only  by  the  Jews,  but  by  several  of  the  eastern 
Christians;  the  twenty-fifth  of  the  second  Canun,  or  January,  be- 
ing set  apart  in  the  Syrian  jcalendar,  for  the  commemoration  of 
Abraham's  being  cast  into  the  fire.  The  Jews  also  mention  some 
other  persecutions  which  Abraham  underwent  on  account  of  his 
religion,  particularly  a  ten  years'  imprisonment  ;  some  saying  he 
was  imprisoned  by  Nhnrod;  and  others,  by  his  father  Terah. 

(2).  Some  tell  us,  that  Nimrod,  on  seeing  this  miraculous  de- 
liverance from  his  palace,  cried  out,  that  he  would  make  an  offer- 
ing to  the  God  of  Abraham;  and  that  he  accordingly  sacrificed  four 
thousand  kine.  But,  if  he  ever  relented,  he  soon  relapsed  into 
his  former  infidelity;  for  he  built  a  tower  that  he  might  ascend  to 
heaven  to  see  Abraham's  God  ;  which  being  over-thrown,  still 
persisting  in  his  design,  he  would  be  carried  to  heaven  in  a  chest 
borne  by  four  monstrous  birds;  but  after  wandering  for  some  time 
through  the  air  he  fell  down  on  a  mountain  with  such  force,  that 
he  made  it  shake,  whereto  (as  some  fancy)  a  passage  in  the  Koran 
alludes,  which  may  be  translated,  although  their  contrivances  be 
such  as  to  make  the  mountains  tremble.  Nimrod,  disappointed  in 
his  design  of  making  war  with  God,  turned  his  arms  against  Abra- 
ham, who,  being  a  great  prince,  raised  forces  to  defend  himself  ; 
but  God,  dividing  Nimrod's  subjects,  and  confounding  their  lan- 
guage, deprived  him  of  the  greater  part  of  his  people,  and  plagued 
those  who  adhered  to  him  by  swarms  of  gnats,  which  destroyed 
almost  all  of  them;  and  one  of  those  gnats  having  entered  into  the 
nostril,  or  ear,  of  Nimrod,  penetrated  to  one  of  the  membranes  of 
his  brain,  where,  growing  bigger  every  day,  gave  him  such  intol- 
erable pain,  that  he  was  obliged  to  cause  his  head  to  be  beaten 
with  a  mallet,  in  order  to  procure  some  ease,  which  torture  he 
suffered  four  hundred  years  ;  God  tjcing  willing  to  punish,  by  one 
of  the  smallest  of  his  creatures,  him  who  insolently  boasted  him- 
self to  be  lord  of  all.  A  Syrian  calendar  places  the  death  of 
Nimrod,  as  if  the  time  were  well  known,  on  the  eighth  of 
Thamuz,  or  July. 

Page  268:  (1).     The  Mohammedan  writers  tell  us,  that  Job  was 


APPENDIX.  5H 

of  the  race  of  Esau,  and  was  blessed  with  a  numerous  family, 
and  abundant  riches  ;  but  that  God  proved  him,  by  taking  away 
all  that  he  had,  even  his  children,  who  were  killed  by  the  fall  of 
a  house;  notwithstanding  which  he  continued  to  serve  God,  and 
to  return  him  thanks,  as  usual ;  that  he  was  then  struck  with  a 
filthy  disease,  his  body  being  full  of  worms,  and  so  offensive,  that 
as  he  lay  on  the  dung-hill  none  could  bear  to  come  near  him, 
that  his  wife,  however  (whom  some  call  Rahiuat  the  daughter  of 
Ephraim  the  son, of  Joseph,  and  others  Makhir  the  daughter  of 
Manasses),  attended  him  with  great  patience,  supporting  him  with 
what  she  earned  by  her  labor  ;  but  that  the  devil  appeared  to  her 
one  day,  after  having  reminded  her  of  her  past  prosperity,  prom- 
ised her  that  if  she  would  worship  him,  he  would  restore  all  they 
had  lost;  whereupon  she  asked  her  husband's  consent,  who  was  so 
angry  at  the  proposal,  that  he  swore,  if  he  recovered,  to  give  his 
wife  a  hundred  stripes  ;  that  Job  having  pronounced  the  prayer 
recorded  in  this  passage,  God  sent  Gabriel,  who  taking  him  by 
the  hand  raised  him  up  ;  and  at  the  same  time  a  fountain  sprang 
up  at  his  feet,  of  which  having  drank,  the  worms  fell  off  his 
body,  and  washing  therein  he  recovered  his  former  health  and 
beauty  ;  that  God  then  restored  all  to  him  double  ;  his  wife  also 
becoming  young  and  handsome  again,  and  bearing  him  twenty-six 
sons  ;  and  that  Job.  to  satisfy  his  oath,  was  directed  by  God  to 
strike  her  one  blow  with  a  palm-branch  having  a  hundred  leaves. 
Some,  to  express  the  great  riches  which  were  bestowed  on  Job 
after  his  sufferings,  say  he  had  two  threshing-floors,  one  for 
wheat,  and  the  other  for  barley,  and  that  God  sent  two  clouds 
which  rained  gold  on  the  one,  and  silver  on  the  other,  till  they 
ran  over.  The  traditions  differ  as  to  the  continuance  of  Job's 
calamities;  one  will  have  it  to  be  eighteen  years,  another  thirteen, 
another  three,  and  another  exactly  seven  years,  seven  months  and 
seven  hours. 

Page  269:  (1).  Whose  office  it  is  to  write  down  the  action  of 
every  man's  life,  which,  at  his  death,  he  rolls  up,  as  completed. 
Some  pretend  one  of  Mohammed's  scribes  is  here  meant  ;  and 
others  take  the  word  Sijil,  or,  as  it  is  also  written,  Sijjill,  for  an 
appellative,  signifying  a  book  or  written  scroll ;  and  accordingly 
render  the  passage,  an  a  written  scroll  is  rolled  vp. 

Page  272:  (1).  i.e.,  The  Caaba  ;  which  the  Mohammedans  pre- 
tend was  the  first  edifice  built  and  appointed  for  the  worship  of 
God.  The  going  round  this  chapel  is  a  principal  ceremony  of 
the  pilgrimage,  and  is  often  repeated  ;  but  the  last  time  of  their 
doing  it,  when  they  take  their  farewell  of  the  temple,  seems  to 
be  more  particularly  meant  in  this  place. 

Page  277:  (1).  Literally,  seven  paths;  by  which  the  heavens 
are  meant,  because,  according  to  some  expositors  they  are  the 
paths  of  the  angels  and  of  the  celestial  bodies;  though  the  original 
word  also  signifies  things  which  are  folded  or  placed  like  »ti>rie« 
one  above  another,  as  the  Mohammedans  suppose  the  heavens  to 
be. 


512  APPENDIX. 

Page  281:  (1).  The  original  word  barzakh,  here  translated  bar, 
primarily  signifies  any  partition,  or  interstice,  which  divides  one 
thing  from  another  ;  but  is  used  by  the  Arabs  not  always  in  the 
same,  and  sometimes  in  an  obscure  sense.  They  seem  generally 
to  express  by  it  what  the  Greeks  did  by  the  word  Hades  ;  one 
while  using  it  for  the  place  of  the  dead,  another  while  for  the 
time  of  their  continuance  in  that  state,  another  while  for  the  state 
itself.  It  is  defined  by  their  critics  to  be  the  interval  or  space 
between  this  world  and  the  next,  or  between  death  and  the  resur 
rection;  every  person  who  dies  being  said  to  enter  into  al  barzakh; 
or,  as  the  Greek  expresses  it,  KaTaflfjvai  £/?  aSov.  One  lexicog- 
rapher tells  us  that  in  the  Koran  it  denotes  the  grave  ;  but  the 
commentators  on  this  passage  expound  it  a  bar,  or  invincible  obsta 
cle,  cutting  off  all  possibility  of  return  into  the  world,  after  death 
See  chapter  25,  where  the  word  again  occurs.  Some  interpreters 
understand  the  words  we  have  rendered  behind  them,  to  mean 
before  them  (it  being  one  of  those  words,  of  which  there  are  sev- 
eral in  the  Arabic  tongue,  that  have  direct  contrary  significations), 
considering  al  Barzakh  as  a  future  space,  and  lying  before,  and 
not  behind  them. 

Page  282:  (1).  For  the  understanding  of  this  passage,  it  is 
necessary  to  relate  the  following  story  : 

Mohammed  having  undertaken  an  expedition  against  the  tribe 
of  Mostalak,  in  the  sixth  year  of  the  Hejra,  took  his  wife  Aye- 
sha  with  him,  to  accompany  him.  In  their  return,  when  they 
were  not  far  from  Medina,  the  army  removing  by  night,  Ayesha. 
on  the  road,  alighted  from  her  camel,  and  stepped  aside  on  a  pri- 
vate occasion  ;  but,  on  her  return,  perceiving  she  had  dropped  her 
necklace,  which  was  of  onyxes  of  Dhafar,  she  went  back  to  look 
for  it  ;  and  in  the  meantime  her  attendants,  taking  it  for  granted, 
that  she  was  got  into  her  pavillion  (or  little  tent  surrounded  with 
curtains,  wherein  women  are  carried  in  the  east)  set  it  again  on 
the  camel,  and  led  it  away.  When  she  came  back  to  the  road, 
and  saw  her  camel  was  gone,  she  sat  down  there,  expecting  that 
when  she  was  missed  some  would  be  sent  back  to  fetch  her  ;  and 
in  a  little  time  she  fell  asleep.  Early  in  the  morning,  Safwan 
Ebn  al  Moattel,  who  had  stayed  behind  to  rest  himself,  coming 
by,  and  perceiving  somebody  asleep,  went  to  see  who  it  was  and 
knew  her  to  be  Ayesha;  upon  which  he  waked  her,  by  twice  pro- 
nouncing with  a  low  voice  these  words,  We  are  God's,  and  unto 
him  must  we  return.  Then  Ayesha  immediately  covered  herself 
with  her  veil ;  aud  Safwan  set  her  on  his  own  camel,  and  led  her 
after  the  army,  which  they  over-took  by  noon,  as  they  were  rest- 
ing. This  accident  had  like  to  have  ruined  Ayesha,  whose  repu- 
tation was  publicly  called  in  question,  as  if  she  had  been  guilty 
of  adultery  with  Safwan;  and  Mohammed  himself  knew  not  what 
to  think,  when  he  reflected  on  the  circumstances  of  the  affair, 
which  were  improved  by  some  malicious  people  very  much  to 
Ayesha's  dishonor;  and  notwithstanding  his  wife's  protestations  ft1 
her  innocence,  he  could  not  get  rid  of  his  perplexity,  nor  sto] 


APPENDIX.  5J3 

mouths  of  the  censorious,  till  about  a  month  after,  when  this  pas- 
sage was  revealed,  declaring  the  accusation  to  be  unjust. 

Page  284:  (1).  To  enter  suddenly  or  abruptly  into  any  man's 
house  or  apartment,  is  reckoned  a  great  incivility  in  the  east ;  be- 
cause a  person  may  possibly  be  surprised  in  an  indecent  action  or 
posture,  or  may  have  something  discovered  which  he  would  con- 
ceal, It  is  said,  that  a  man  carne  to  Mohammed,  and  wanted  to 
know  whether  he  must  ask  leave  to  go  in  to  his  sister  ;  which  be- 
ing answered  in  the  affirmative,  he  told  the  prophet  that  his  sister 
had  nobody  else  to  attend  upon  her,  and  it  would  be  troublesome 
to  ask  leave  every  time  he  went  in  to  her.  What,  replied  Moham- 
med, wouldest  thou  see  Tier  naked  ? 

Page  291  :  (1).  The  commentators  are  at  a  loss  where  to  place 
al  Eass.  According  to  one  opinion  it  was  the  name  of  a  well  (as 
the  word  signifies)  near  Midian,  about  which  some  idolaters  hav- 
ing fixed  their  habitations,  the  prophet  Shoaib  was  sent  to  preach 
to  them;  but  they  not  believing  on  him,  the  well  fell  in,  and  they 
and  their  houses  were  all  swallowed  up.  Another  supposes  it  to 
have  been  in  a  town  in  Yamarna,  where  a  remnant  of  the  Thamu- 
dites  settled,  to  whom  a  prophet  was  also  sent ;  but  they  slaying 
him,  were  utterly  destroyed.  Another  thinks  it  was  a  well  near 
Antioch,  where  Habib  al  Najjar  (whose  tomb  is  still  to  be  seen 
there,  being  frequently  visited  by  Mohammedans)  was  martyred. 
And  a  fourth  takes  al  Rass  to  be  a  well  in  Hadramaut,  by  which 
dwelt  some  idolatrous  Tharuudites,  whose  prophet  was  Handha, 
or  Khantala  (for  I  find  the  name  written  both  ways)  Ebn  Safwan. 
These  people  were  first  annoyed  by  certain  monstrous  birds,  called 
Anka,  which  lodged  in  the  mountain  above  them,  and  used  to 
snatch  away  their  children,  when  they  wanted  other  prey  ;  but 
this  calamity  was  so  far  from  humbling  them,  that  on  their 
prophet's  calling  down  a  judgment  upon  them,  they  killed  him, 
and  were  all  destroyed. 

Page  301 :  (1).  The  Arab  historians  tell  us  that  Solomon,  hav- 
ing finished  the  temple  of  Jerusalem,  went  in  pilgrimage  to 
Mecca,  where,  having  stayed  as  long  as  he  pleased,  he  proceeded 
toward  Yainan;  and  leaving  Mecca  in  the  morning,  he  arrived  by 
noon  at  Sanaa,  and  being  extremely  delighted  with  the  country, 
rested  there;  but  wanting  water  to  make  the  ablution,  he  looked 
among  the  birds  for  the  lap- wing,  called  by  the  Arabs  al  Hudbud, 
whose  business  it  was  to  find  it ;  for  it  is  pretended  she  was  saga- 
cious or  sharp-sighted  enough  to  discover  water  underground, 
which  the  devils  used  to  draw,  after  she  had  marked  the  place  by 
digging  with  her  bill  ;  they  add,  that  this  bird  was  then  taking  a 
tour  in  the  air,  whence,  seeing  one  of  her  companions  alighting, 
she  descended  also,  and  having  had  a  description  given  her  by  the 
other  of  the  city  of  Saba,  whence  she  was  just  arrived,  they  both 
went  together  to  take  a  view  of  the  place,  and  returned  soon  after 
Solomon  had  made  the  inquiry  which  occasioned  what  follows. 
it  i imy  be  proper  to  mention  here  what  the  eastern  writers  fable 
of  the'  manner  of  Solomon's  traveling.  They  say  that  he  had  a 


514  APPENDIX. 

carpet  of  green  silk,  on  which  his  throne  was  placed,  being  of  a 
prodigious  length  and  breadth,  and  sufficient  for  all  his  forces  to 
stand  on,  tbe  men  placing  themselves  on  his  right  hand,  and  the 
spirits  on  his  left;  and  that  when  all  were  in  order,  the  wind,  at 
his  command,  took  up  the  carpet,  and  transported  it,  with  all  that 
were  upon  it,  wherever  he  pleased  ;  the  army  of  birds  at  the  same 
time  flying  over  their  heads,  and  forming  a  kind  of  canopy,  to 
shade  them  from  the  sun. 

(2).  Which  the  commentators  say  was  made  of  gold  and  silver, 
and  crowned  with  precious  stones.  But  they  differ  as  to  the  size 
of  it;  one  making  it  four-score  cubits  long,  forty  broad,  and  thirty 
high;  while  some  say  it  was  four-score,  and  others  thirty  cubits 
every  way. 

Page  302:  (1).  Bearing  the  presents,  which  they  say  were  five 
hundred  young  slaves  of  each  sex,  all  habited  in  the  same  man- 
ner, five  hundred  bricks  of  gold,  a  crown  encriched  with  precious 
stones,  besides  a  large  quantity  of  musk,  amber,  and  other  things 
of  value.  Some  add  that  Balkis,  to  try  whether  Solomon  was  a 
prophet  or  no,  dressed  the  boys  like  girls,  and  the  girls  like  boys, 
and  sent  him  in  a  casket,  a  pearl  not  drilled,  and  an  onyx  drilled 
with  a  crooked  hole  ;  and  that  Solomon  distinguished  the  boys 
from  the  girls  by  the  different  manner  of  their  taking  water,  and 
ordered  one  worm  to  bore  the  pearl,  and  another  to  pass  a  thread 
through  the  onyx.  They  also  tell  us  that  Solomon,  having  notice 
of  this  embassy,  by  means  of  the  lapwing,  even  before  they  set 
out,  ordered  a  large  square  to  be  enclosed  with  a  wall  built  of 
gold  and  silver  bricks,  wherein  he  ranged  his  forces  and  atten- 
dants to  receive  them. 

Page  308:  (1).  viz.,  The  longest  terms  of  ten  years.  The  Mo- 
hammedans say,  after  the  Jews,  that  Moses  received  from  Shoaib 
the  rod  of  the  prophets  (which  was  a  branch  of  a  myrtle  of  para- 
dise, and  had  descended  to  him  from  Adam)  to  keep  off  the  wild 
beasts  from  his  sheep;  and  that  this  was  the  rod  with  which  he 
performed  all  those  wonders  in  Egypt. 

Page  309:  (1).  It  is  said  that  Hainan,  having  prepared  bricks 
and  other  materials,  employed  no  less  than  fifty  thousand  men, 
besides  laborers,  in  the  building  ;  which  they  carried  to  so  im- 
mense a  height  that  the  workmen  could  no  longer  stand  on  it, 
that  Pharaoh,  ascending  this  tower,  threw  a  javelin  toward 
heaven,  which  fell  back  again  stained  with  blood,  whereupon  he 
impiously  boasted  that  he  had  killed  the  God  of  Moses;  but  at  sun- 
set God  sent  the  angel  Gabriel,  who,  with  one  stroke  of  his  wing, 
demolished  the  tower,  a  part  whereof,  falling  on  the  king's  army, 
destroyed  a  million  of  men. 

Page  313:  (1).  The  commentators  say,  Karun  was  the  son  of 
Yeshar  (or  Izhar),  the  uncle  of  Moses,  and,  consequently,  make 
him  the  same  with  the  Korah  of  the  scriptures.  This  person  is 
represented  by  them  as  the  most  beautiful  of  the  Israelites,  and 
so  far  surpassing  them  all  in  opulency  that  the  riches  of  Karun 


APPENDIX. 


515 


have  become  a  proverb.  The  Mohammedans  are  indebted  to  the 
Jews  for  this  last  circumstance,  to  which  they  have  added  several 
other  fables;  for  they  tell  us  that  he  built  a  large  palace  over-laid 
with  gold,  the  doors  whereof  were  of  massy  gold;  that  he  became 
so  insolent  because  of  his  immense  riches,  as  to  raise  a  sedition 
against  Moses,  though  some  pretend  the  occasion  of  his  rebellion  to 
have  been  his  unwillingness  to  give  alms,  as  Moses  had  commanded ; 
that  one  day,  when  that  prophet  was  preaching  to  the  people,  and, 
among  other  laws  which  he  published,  declared  that  adulterers 
should  be  stoned,  Karun  asked  him  what  if  he  should  be  found 
guilty  of  the  same  crime  ?  To  which  Moses  answered,  that  in  such 
case  he  would  suffer  the  same  punishment  ;  and  thereupon  Karun 
produced  a  harlot,  whom  he  had  hired  to  swear  that  Moses  had  lain 
with  her,  and  charged  him  publicly  with  it  ;  but  on  Moses  adjur- 
ing the  woman  to  speak  the  truth,  her  resolution  failed  her,  and 
she  confessed  that  she  was  suborned  by  Karun  to  accuse  him 
wrongfully  ;  that  then  God  directed  Moses,  who  had  complained 
to  him  of  this  usage,  to  command  the  earth  what  he  pleased,  and 
it  should  obey  him;  whereupon  he  said,  0 earth  swallow  them  up! 
and  that  immediately  the  earth  opened  under  Karun  and  his  con- 
federates, and  swallowed  them  up,  with  his  palace  and  all  his  riches. 
There  goes  a  tradition,  that  as  Karfln  sank  gradually  into  the 
ground,  first  to  his  knees,  then  to  his  waist,  then  to  his  neck,  he 
cried  out  four  several  times,  O  Moses,  hate  mercy  on  me  !  but  that 
Moses  continued  to  say,  O  earth,  swallow  them  up,  till  at  last  he 
wholly  disappeared  ;  upon  which  God  said  to  Moses,  'ihou  host  no 
mercy  on  Karfin,  though  he  asked  pardon  oj  theefour  times;  but  I 
would  have  had  compassion  on  him  if  lie  had  asked  pardon  of  me 
but  once. 

Page  315:  (1).  This  is  true,  if  the  whole  life  of  Noah  be 
reckoned;  and  accordingly  Abulfeda  says  he  was  sent  to  preach  in 
his  two  hundred  and  fiftieth  year,  and  that  he  lived  in  all  nine 
hundred  and  fifty  ;  but  the  text  seeming  to  speak  of  those  years 
only  which  he  spent  in  preaching  to  the  wicked  antediluvians,  the 
commentators  suppose  him  to  have  lived  much  longer.  Some  say 
the  whole  length  of  his  life  was  a  thousand  and  fifty  years  ;  that 
his  mission  happened  in  the  fortieth  year  of  his  age,  and  that  he 
lived  after  the  Flood  sixty  years  ;  and  others  give  different  num- 
bers; one,  in  particular,  pretending  that  Noah  lived  near  sixteen 
hundred  years.  This  circumstance,  says  al  Beidawi,  was  men- 
tioned to  encourage  Mohammed,  and  to  assure  him  that  God,  who 
supported  Noah  so  many  years  against  the  opposition  and  plots  of 
the  antediluvian  infidels,  would  not  fail  to  defend  him  against  all 
attempts  of  the  idolatrous  Meccans  and  their  partisans. 

Page  323:  (1).  The  Arab  writers  say, that  Lokman  was  the  son  of 
Baura  who  was  the  son  or  gra.idcon  of  a  sister  or  aunt  of  Job;  and 
that  he  lived  several  centuries,  and  to  the  timeof  David,  with  whom 
he  was  conversant  in  Palestine.  According  to  the  description  they 
give  of  his  person, he  mast  hare  been  deformed  enough;  for  they  say 
he  was  of  a  black  complexion  ( whence  eome  call  him  an  Ethiopian), 


516  APPENDIX. 

with  thick  lips  and  splay  feet  ;  but  in  return  he  received  from 
God  wisdom  and  eloquence  in  a  great  degree,  which  some  pretend 
were  given  him  in  a  vision,  on  his  making  choice  of  wisdom 
preferably  to  the  gift  of  prophecy,  either  of  which"  were  offered 
him.  The  generality  of  the  Mohammedans,  therefore,  hold  him 
to  have  been  no  prophet,  but  only  a  wise  man.  As  to  his  condi- 
tion, they  say  he  was  a  slave,  but  obtained  his  liberty  on  the  fol- 
lowing occasion:  His  master  having  one  day  given  him  a  bitter 
melon  to  eat,  he  paid  him  such  exact  obedience  as  to  eat  it  all ;  at 
which  his  master  being  surprised,  asked  him  how  he  could  eat  so 
nauseous  a  fruit  ?  To  which  he  replied,  it  was  no  wonder  that 
he  should  for  once  accept  a  bitter  fruit  from  the  same  hand  from 
which  he  had  received  so  many  favors.  The  commentators  men- 
tion several  quick  repartees  of  Lokman,  which,  together  with  the 
circumstances  above  mentioned,  agree  so  well  with  what  Maxiinus 
Planudes  has  written  of  Esop,  that  from  thence,  and  from  the 
fables  attributed  to  Lokrnan  by  the  orientals,  the  latter  has  been 
generally  thought  to  have  been  no  other  than  the  Esop  of  the 
Greeks.  However,  that  be  (for  I  think  the  matter  will  bear  a 
dispute),  I  am  of  the  opinion  that  Planudes  borrowed  great  part 
of  his  life  of  Esop  from  the  traditions  he  met  with  in  the  east 
concerning  Lokan,  concluding  them  to  have  been  the  same  person, 
because  they  were  both  slaves,  and  supposed  to  be  the  writers  of 
those  fables  which  go  under  their  respective  names,  and  bear  a 
great  resemblance  to  one  another  ;  for  it  has  long  since  been  ob- 
served by  learned  men  that  the  greater  part  of  that  monk's  per- 
formance is  an  absurd  romance,  and  supported  by  no  evidence  of 
the  ancient  writers. 

Page  328:  (1).  This  passage  was  revealed  to  abolish  two  cus- 
toms among  the  old  Arabs.  The  first  was  their  manner  of  divorc- 
ing their  wives,  when  they  had  no  mind  to  let  them  go  out  of 
their  house,  or  to  marry  again;  and  this  the  husband  did  by  say 
ing  to  the  woman,  Thou  art  henceforward  to  me  as  the  back  of  /«,// 
mother ;  after  which  words  pronounced  he  abstained  from  Lei- 
bed,  and  regarded  her  in  all  respects  as  his  mother,  and  she  be- 
came related  to  all  his  kindred  in  the  same  degree  as  if  she  had 
been  really  so.  The  other  custom  was  the  holding  their  adopted 
sons  to  be  as  as  nearly  related  to  them  as  their  natural  sons,  so 
that  the  same  impediments  of  marriage  arose  from  that  supposed 
relation,  in  the  prohibited  degrees,  as  it  would  have  done  in  the 
case  of  a  genuine  son.  The  latter  Mohammed  had  a  peculiar 
reason  to  abolish — viz.,  his  marrying  the  divorced  wife  of  his 
freedman  Zeid,  who  was  also  his  adopted  son,  of  which  more  will 
be  said  by-and-bye.  By  the  declaration  which  introduces  this 
passage,  that  God  Juts  not  given  a  man  two  hearts,  is  meant,  that 
a  man  cannot  have  the  same  affection  for  supposed  parents  and 
adopted  children,  as  for  those  who  are  really  so.  They  tell  us  the 
Arabs  used  to  say,  of  a  prudent  and  acute  person,  that  he  had  two 
hearts  ;  whence  one  Abu  Mamer,  or,  as  others  write,  Jemil  Ebn 
Asad  al  Fihri,  was  surnamed  Dhu'lkalbein,  or  the  man  with  two 
hearts. 


APPENDIX. 

(2).^  On  the  enemies'  approach,  Mohammed,  by  the  advice  of 
Salman,  the  Persian,  ordered  a  deep  ditch  or  entrenchment  to  be 
dug  round  Medina,  for  the  security  of  the  city,  and  went  out  to 
defend  it  with  three  thousand  men.  Both  sides  remained  in  their 
camps  near  a  month,  witbout  any  other  acts  of  hostility  tban 
shooting  of  arrows  and  slinging  of  stones;  till,  in  a  winter's  night, 
God  sent  a  piercing  cold  east  wind,  which  benumbed  the  limbs  of 
the  confederates,  blew  the  dust  in  their  faces,  extinguished  their 
fires,  over-turned  their  tents,  and  put  their  horses  in  disorder,  the 
angels  at  the  same  time  crying,  Allah  acbar  !  round  about  their 
camp ;  whereupon  Toleiha  Ebn  Khowailed,  the  Asadite,  said 
aloud,  Mohammed  is  going  to  attack  you  with  encliantments, 
wherefore  provide  for  your  safety  by  flight ;  and  accordingly  the 
Koreish  first,  and  afterward  the  Ghatfanites,  broke  up  the 
siege,  and  returned  home  ;  which  retreat  was  also  not  a  little  ow- 
ing to  the  dissensions  among  the  confederate  forces,  the  raising 
and  fomenting  whereof  the  Mohammedans  also  ascribe  to  God.  It 
is  related  that  when  Mohammed  heard  that  his  enemies  were  re- 
tired,  he  said,  I  have  obtained  success  by  means  of  the  east  wind; 
and  Ad  perished  by  the  west  wind. 

Page  330:  (1).  These  were  the  Jews  of  the  tribe  of  Koreidha, 
who,  though  they  were  in  league  with  Mohammed,  had,  at  the 
incessant  persuasion  of  Caab  Ebn  Asad,  a  principal  man  among 
them,  perfidiously  gone  over  to  his  enemies  in  this  war  of  the 
ditch,  and  were  severely  punished  for  it.  For  the  next  morning, 
after  the  confederate  forces  had  decamped,  Mohammed  and  his 
men  returned  to  Medina,  and,  laying  down  their  arms,  began  to 
refresh  themselves  after  their  fatigue;  upon  which  Gabriel  came 
to  the  prophet  and  asked  him  whether  he  had  suffered  his  people 
to  lay  down  their  arms,  when  the  angels  had  not  laid  down 
theirs;  and  ordering  him  to  go  immediately  against  the  Koradhites, 
assuring  him  that  himself  would  lead  the  way.  Mohammed,  in 
obedience  to  the  divine  command,  having  caused  public  proclama- 
tion to  be  made  that  every  one  should  pray  that  afternoon  for  suc- 
cess against  the  son  of  Koreidha,  set  forward  upon  the  expedition 
without  loss  of  time  ;  and  being  arrived  at  the  fortress  of  the 
Koradhites,  besieged  them  for  twenty-five  days,  at  the  end  of 
which  those  people,  being  in  great  terror  and  distress,  capitulated, 
and  at  length,  not  daring  to  trust  to  Mohammed's  mercy,  surren- 
dered at  the  discretion  of  Saad  Ebn  Moadh,  hoping  that  he,  being 
the  prince  of  the  tribe  of  Aws,  their  old  friends  and  confederates 
would  have  some  regard  for  them.  But  they  were  deceived: 
for  Saad,  being  greatly  incensed  at  their  breach  of  faith,  had  beg- 
ged of  God  that  he  might  not  die  of  the  wound  he  had  received  at 
the  ditch  till  he  saw  vengeance  taken  on  the  Koradhites,  and 
therefore  adjudged  that  the  men  should  be  put  to  the  sword,  the 
women  and  children  made  slaves.and  their  goods  be  divided  among 
the  Moslems,  which  sentence  Mohammed  had  no  sooner  heard 
than  he  cried,  out,  That  Saad  had  pronounced  t he  sentence  of  Ood 
and  the  same  was  accordingly  executed,  the  number  of  men  who 


518  APPENDIX. 

were  slain  amounting  to  six  hundred,  or,  as  others  say,  to  seven 
hundred,  or  very  near,  among  whom  Avere  Hoyai  Ebn  Akhtab,  a 
great  enemy  of  Mohammed's,  and  Caab  Ebn  Asad,  who  had  been 
the  chief  occasion  of  the  revolt  of  their  tribe;  and  soon  after  Saad, 
who  had  given  judgment  against  them,  died,  his  wound,  which 
had  been  skinned  over,  opening  again. 

Page  384:  (1).  By  faith  is  here  understood  entire  obedience  to 
the  law  of  God,  which  is  represented  to  be  of  so  high  concern  (no 
less  than  eternal  happiness  or  misery  depending  on  the  observance 
or  neglect  thereof),  and  so  difficult  in  the  performance,  that  if 
God  should  propose  the  same  on  the  conditions  annexed,  to  the 
vaster  parts  of  the  creation,  and  they  had  understanding  to  com- 
prehend the  offer,  they  would  decline  it,  and  not  dare  to  take  on 
them  a  duty,  the  failing  wherein  must  be  attended  with  so  terri- 
ble a  consequence  ;  and  yet  man  is  said  to  have  undertaken  it, 
notwithstanding  his  weakness  and  the  infirmites  of  his  nature. 
Some  imagine  this  proposal  is  not  hypothetical,  but  was  actually 
made  to  the  heavens,  earth  and  mountains,  which  at  their  first 
creation  were  endued  with  reason,  and  that  God  told  them  he  had 
made  a  law,  and  had  created  paradise  for  the  recompense  of  such 
as  were  obedient  to  it,  and  hell  for  the  punishment  of  the  disobe- 
dient; to  which  they  answered  they  were  content  to  be  obliged  to 
perform  the  services  for  which  they  were  created,  but  would  not 
undertake  to  fulfill  the  divine  law  on  those  conditions,  and  there- 
fore desired  neither  reward  nor  punishment ;  they  add  that  when 
Adam  was  created,  the  same  offer  was  made  to  him,  and  he  ac- 
cepted it.  The  commentators  have  other  explications  of  this  pas- 
sage, which  it  would  be  too  prolix  to  transcribe. 

Page  385:  (1).  Some  suppose  these  were  images  of  the  angels 
and  prophets,  and  that  the  making  of  them  was  not  then  forbid- 
den; or  else  that  they  were  not  such  images  as  were  forbidden  by 
the  law.  Some  say  these  spirits  made  him  two  lions,  which  were 
placed  at  the  foot  of  his  throne,  and  two  eagles,  which  were  set 
above  it  ;  and  that  when  he  mounted  it  the  lions  stretched  out 
their  paws,  and  when  he  sat  down  the  eagles  shaded  him  with 
their  wings. 

(2).  The  commentators,  to  explain  this  passage,  tell  us  that 
David,  having  laid  the  foundations  of  the  temple  of  Jerusa- 
lem, which  was  to  be  in  lieu  of  the  tabernacle  of  Moses,  when  he 
died,  left  it  to  be  finished  by  his  son  Solomon,  who  employed  the 
genii  in  the  work;  that  Solomon,  before  the  edifice  was  quite  com- 
pleted, perceiving  his  end  drew  nigh,  begged  of  God  that  his  death 
might  be  concealed  from  the  genii  till  they  had  entirely  finished 
it  ;  that  God  therefore,  so  ordered  it,  that  Solomon  died  as  he 
stood  at  his  prayers,  leaning  on  his  staff,  which  supported  the 
body  in  that  posture  a  full  year  ;  and  the  genii,  supposing  him  to 
be  alive,  continued  their  work  during  that  term,  at  the  expiration 
whereof  the  temple  being  perfectly  completed,  a  worm,  which 
had  gotten  into  the  staff,  ate  it  through,  and  the  corpse  fell  to  the 


APPENDIX.  519 

ground  and  discovered  the  king's  death.  Possibly  this  fable  of 
the  temple's  being  built  by  genii,  and  not  by  men,  might  take  its 
rise  from  what  is  mentioned  in  scripture,  that  the  house  was  built 
of  atone  '/node  ready  before  it  teas  brougld  thither;  no  that  there  was 
neither  hammer,  nor  axe,  itor  any  toot  of  iron  heard  in.  the  house 
while  it  was  building;  the  Rabbins  indeed,  tell  us  of  a  worm,  which 
might  assist  the  workmen,  its  virtue  being  such  as  to  cause  the 
rocks  and  stones  to  fly  in  sunder.  Whether  the  worm  which 
gnawed  Solomon's  staff  were  of  the  same  breed  with  this  other,  I 
know  not;  but  the  story  has  perfectly  the  air  of  a  Jewish  inven- 
tion. 

Page  343:  (1).     To  explain  this  passage,  the  commentators  tell 
the  following  story: 

The  people  of  Antioch  being  idolaters,  Jesus  sent  two  of  his 
disciples  thither  to  preach  to  them  ;  and  when  they  drew  near  the 
city  they  found  Habib,  surnanied  al  Najjar,  or  the  carpenter, 
feeding  sheep,  and  acqainted  him  with  thair  errand  ;  whereupon 
he  asked  them  what  proof  they  had  of  their  veracity,  and  they 
told  him  they  could  cure  the  sick,  and  the  blind,  and  the  lepers; 
and  to  demonstrate  the  truth  of  what  they  said,  they  laid  their 
hands  on  a  child  of  his  who  was  sick,  and  immediately  restored 
him  to  health.  Habib  was  convinced  by  this  miracle,  and  be- 
lieved; after  which  they  went  into  the  «ity  and  preached  the  wor- 
ship of  one  true  God,  curing  a  great  number  of  people  of  several 
infirmities;  but  at  length,  the  affair  coming  to  the  prince's  ear.  he 
ordered  them  to  be  imprisoned  for  endeavoring  to  seduce  the 
people.  When  Jesus  heard  of  this,  he  sent  another  of  his  disci- 
ples, generally  supposed  to  have  been  Simon  Peter,  who,  coming 
to  Antioch,  and  appearing  as  a  zealous  idolater,  soon  insinuated 
himself  into  the  favor  of  the  inhabitants  and  of  their  prince.and  at 
length  took  an  opnortunity  to  desire  the  prince  would  order  the 
two  persons  who,  as  he  was  informed,  had  been  put  in  prison,  for 
broaching  new  opinions,  to  be  brought  before  him  to  be  examined; 
and  accordingly  they  were  brought ;  when  Peter,  having  previ- 
ously warned  them  to  take  no  notice  that  they  knew  him,  asked 
them  who  sent  them,  to  which  they  answered,  God,  who  had 
created  all  things,  and  had  no  companion.  He  then  required 
some  convincing  proof  of  their  mission,  upon  which  they  restored 
a  blind  person  to  his  sight  and  performed  some  other  miracles, 
with  which  Peter  seemed  not  to  be  satisfied,  for  that,  according 
to  some,  he  did  the  very  same  miracles  himself,  but  declared  that, 
if  their  God  could  enable  them  to  raise  the  dead,  he  would  t>i- 
lieve  them;  which  condition  the  two  apostles  accepting,  a  lad  WHS 
brought  who  had  been  dead  seven  days,  and  at  their  prayers  )u- 
was  raised  to  life  ;  and  thereupon  Peter  acknowledged  himself 
convinced,  and  ran  and  demolished  the  idols,  a  great  many  of  tin 
people  following  him,  and  embracing  the  true  faith  ;  but  thc»«- 
who  believed  not  were  destroyed  by  the  cry  of  the  angel  Gabriel. 

Page  347:  (1).     The  usual  way  of  striking  fire  in  the  east  i*  i.v 


520  APPENDIX. 

rubbing  together  two  pieces  of  wood,  one  of  which  is  commonly 
of  the  tree  called  Markh,  and  the  other  of  that  called  Afar  ;  and 
it  will  succeed  even  though  the  wood  be  green  and  wet. 

Page  349:  (1).  Some  suppose  that  the  entertainment  mentioned 
will  be  the  welcome  given  the  damned  before  they  enter  that 
place;  and  others,  that  they  will  be  suffered  to  come  out  of  hell 
from  time  to  time,  to  drink  their  scalding  liquor 

Page  354:  (1).  Some  say  that  Solomon  brought  these  horses, 
being  a  thousand  in  number,  from  Damascus  and  Nisibis,  which 
cities  he  had  taken ;  others  say  that  they  were  left  him  by  his 
father,  who  took  them  from  the  Amalekites  ;  while  others,  who 
prefer  the  marvelous, pretend  that  they  came  up  out  of  the  sea, and 
had  wings.  However,  Solomon,  having  one  day  a  mind  to  view 
these  horses,  ordered  them  to  be  brought  before  him,  and  was  so 
taken  up  with  them  that  he  spent  the  remainder  of  the  day,  till 
after  sunset,  in  looking  on  them  ;  by  which  means  he  neglected 
the  prayer,  which  ought  to  have  been  said  at  that  time,  till  it  was 
too  late  ;  but  when  he  perceived  his  omission,  he  was  so  greatly 
concerned  at  it,  that  ordering  the  horses  to  be  brought  back,  he 
killed  them  all  as  an  offering  to  God,  except  only  a  hundred  of 
the  best  of  them.  But  God  made  him  ample  amends  for  the  loss 
of  these  horses,  by  giving  him  dominion  over  the  winds. 

(2).  The  most  received  exposition  of  this  passage  is  taken  from 
the  following  Talmudic  fable: 

Solomon,  having  taken  Sidon,  and  slain  the  king  of  that  city, 
brought  away  his  daughter  Jerada,  who  became  his  favorite  ;  and 
because  she  ceased  not  to  lament  her  father's  loss,  he  ordered  the 
devils  to  make  an  image  of  him  for  her  consolation  ;  which  being 
done,  and  placed  in  her  chamber,  she  and  her  maids  worshiped  it 
morning  and  evening,  according  to  their  custom.  At  length 
Solomon  being  informed  of  this  idolatry,  which  was  practiced  un- 
der his  roof,  by  his  vizir  Asaf,  he  broke  the  image,  and  having 
chastised  the  woman,  went  out  into  the  desert,  where  he  wept 
and  made  supplication  to  God;  who  did  not  think  fit,  however,  to 
let  his  negligence  pass  without  some  correction.  It  was  Solomon's 
custom,  while  he  eased  or  washed  himself,  to  entrust  his  signet. 
on  which  his  kingdom  depended,  with  a  concubine  of  his  named 
Amina;  one  day,  therefore,  when  she  had  the  ring  in  her  custody, 
a  devil,  named  Sakhar,  came  to  her  in  the  shape  of  Solomon, 
and  received  the  ring  from  her ;  by  virtue  of  which  he 
became  possessed  of  the  kingdom,  and  sat  on  the  throne  in  the 
shape  which  he  had  borrowed,  making  what  alterations  in  the 
law  he  pleased.  Solomon,  in  the  meantime,  being  changed  in  his 
outward  appearance,  and  known  to  none  of  his  subjects,  was 
obliged  to  wander  about,  and  beg  alms  for  his  subsistence  ;  till  at 
length,  after  the  space  of  forty  days,  which  was  the  time  the 
image  had  been  worshiped  in  his  house,  the  devil  flew  away,  and 
threw  the  signet  into  the  sea  ;  the  signet  was  immediately  swal- 
lowed by  a  fish,  which  being  taken  and  given  to  Solomon,  he  found 


APPENDIX.  521 

the  ring  in  its  belly,  and  Laving  by  this  means  recovered  th« 
kingdom  took  Sakhar,  and  tying  a  great  stone  to  his  neck,  threw 
him  into  the  lake  of  Tiberias. 

Page  361 :  (1).  These,  some  say,  will  be  the  angels  Gabriel, 
Michael,  and  Israfil,  and  the  angel  of  death,  who  yet  will  after- 
ward all  die,  at  the  command  of  God  ;  it  being  the  constant  opin 
ion  of  the  Mohammedan  doctors,  that  every  soul,  both  of  men  and 
of  animals,  which  live  either  on  land  or  in  the  sea,  and  of  the 
angels  also,  must  necessarily  taste  of  death  ;  others  suppose  those 
who  will  be  exempted  are  the  angels  who  bear  the  throne  of  God, 
or  the  black-eyed  damsels,  and  other  inhabitants  of  paradise. 
The  space  between  these  two  blasts  of  the  trumpet  will  be  forty 
days,  according  to  Yahya  and  others  ;  there  are  some,  however, 
who  suppose  it  will  be  as  many  years. 

Page  369:  (1).  Al  Zamakhshari  says  this  smoke  proceeded  from 
the  waters  under  the  throne  of  God  (which  throne  was  one  of  the 
things  created  before  the  heavens  and  the  earth),  and  rose  above 
the  water  ;  that  the  water  being  dried  up,  the  earth  was  formed 
out  of  it,  and  the  heavens  out  of  the  smoke  which  had  mounted 
aloft. 

Page  380:  (1).  For  some  time  before  the  resurrection  Jesus  is 
to  descend  on  earth,  according  to  the  Mohammedans,  near  Damas- 
cus, or,  as  some  say,  near  a  rock  in  the  holy  land  named  Afik, 
with  a  lance  in  his  hand,  wherewith  he  is  to  kill  anti  Christ,  whom 
he  will  encounter  at  Ludd,  or  Lydda,  a  small  town  not  far  from 
Joppa.  They  add  that  he  will  arrive  at  Jerusalem  at  the  time  of 
morning  prayer,  that  he  shall  perform  his  devotions  after  the 
Mohammedan  institution,  and  officiate  instead  of  the  Imam,  who 
shall  give  place  to  him  ;  that  he  will  break  down  the  cross,  and 
destroy  the  churches  of  the  Christians,  of  whom  he  will  make  a 
general  slaughter,  excepting  only  such  as  shall  profess  Islam, 
etc. 

Page  382:  (1).  For  annually  on  this  night,  as  the  Mohamme- 
dans are  taught,  all  the  events  of  the  ensuing  year,  with  respect 
to  life  and  death,  and  the  other  affairs  of  this  world,  are  disposed 
and  settled.  Some,  however,  suppose  that  these  words  refer  only 
to  that  particular  night  on  which  the  Koran,  wherein  are  com- 
pletely contained  the  divine  determinations  in  respect  to  religion 
and  morality,  was  sent  down  ;  and,  according  to  this  exposition, 
the  passage  may  be  rendered,  The  night  whereon  every  determined 
or  adjudged  matter  teas  sent  down. 

(2).  The  commentators  differ  in  their  expositions  of  this  pas- 
sage. Some  think  it  spoke  of  a  smoke  which  seemed  to  fill  the 
air  during  the  famine  which  was  inflicted  on  the  Meccans  in  Mo- 
hammed's time,  and  was  so  thick  that,  though  they  could  hear, 
yet  they  could  not  see  one  another.  But,  according  to  a  tradition 
of  Ali,  the  smoke  here  meant  is  that  which  is  to  be  one  of  the 
previous  signs  of  the  day  of  judgment,  and  will  fill  the  whole 
space  from  east  to  west,  and  last  for  forty  days.  This  amok*. 


522  APPENLIX. 

they  say,  will  intoxicate  the  infidels,  and  issue  at  their  nose,  ears 
and"  posteriors,  but  will  very  little  inconvenience  the  true  believ- 
ers. 

Page  400:  (1).  That  is,  from  a  place  whence  every  creature 
may  equally  hear  the  call.  This  place,  it  is  supposed,  will  be  the 
mountain  of  the  temple  of  Jerusalem,  which  some  fancy  to  be 
nigher  heaven  than  any  other  part  of  the  earth  ;  whence  Israfil 
will  sound  the  trumpet,  and  Gabriel  will  make  the  following  pro- 
clamation: 0  ye  rotten  bones,  and  torn  flesh,  and  dispersed  hairs, 
God  commandeth  you  to  be  gathered  together  to  judgment. 

Page  414:  (1).  The  meaning  of  this  obscure  passage  is,  if  ye 
shall  not  be  obliged  to  give  an  account  of  your  actions  at  the  last 
day,  as  by  your  denying  the  resurrection  ye  seem  to  believe,  cause 
the  soul  of  the  dying  person  to  return  into  his  body;  for  ye  may  as 
easily  do  that  as  avoid  the  general  judgment. 

Page  427:  (1).  That  is,  Friday,  which  being  more  peculiarly 
set  apart  by  Mohammed  for  the  public  worship  of  God,  is  there- 
fore  called  Yawn  al  joma,  i.e.,  the  day  of  the  assembly  or  congre- 

fation;  whereas  before  it  was  called  al  Aruba.  The  first  time  this 
ay  was  particularly  observed,  as  some  say,  was  on  the  prophet's 
arrival  at  Medina,  into  which  city  he  made  his  first  entry  on  a 
Friday  ;  but  others  tell  us  that  Caab  Ebn  Lowa,  one  of  Moham- 
med's ancestors,  gave  the  day  its  present  name,  because  on  that 
day  the  people  used  to  be  assembled  before  him.  One  reason 
given  for  the  observation  on  Friday,  preferably  to  any  other  day 
of  the  week,  is  because  on  that  day  God  finished  the  creation. 

(2).  By  returning  to  your  commerce  and  worldly  occupations, 
if  ye  think  fit  ;  for  the  Mohammedans  do  not  hold  themselves 
obliged  to  observe  the  day  of  their  public  assembly  with  the  same 
strictness  as  the  Christians  and  Jews  do  their  respective  Sabbaths; 
or  particularly  to  abstain  from  work,  after  they  have  performed 
their  devotions.  Some,  however,  from  a  tradition  of  their 
prophet,  are  of  opinion  that  works  of  charity,  and  religious 
exercises,  which  may  draw  down  the  blessing  of  God,  are  recom- 
mended in  this  passage. 

Page  437:  (1).  The  original  word  al  Hakkat  is  one  of  the 
names  or  epithets  of  the  day  of  judgment.  As  the  root  from 
which  it  is  derived  signifies  not  only  to  be  or  come  to  pass  of  neces- 
sity, but  also  to  verify  ;  some  rather  think  that  day  to  be  so  called 
because  it  will  verify  and  show  the  truth  of  what  men  doubt  of  in 
this  life,  viz.,  the  resurrection  of  the  dead,  their  being  brought  to 
account,  and  the  consequent  rewards  and  punishments. 

Page  438:  (1).  This  is  supposed  to  be  the  space  which  would 
be  required  for  their  ascent  from  the  lowest  part  of  creation  to  the 
throne  of  God,  if  it  were  to  be  measured  ;  or  the  time  which  it 
would  take  a  man  up  to  perform  that  journey,  and  this  is  not  con- 
tradictory to  what  is  said  elsewhere  (if  it  be  to  be  interpreted  of 
the  ascent  of  the  angels),  that  the  length  of  the  day  whereon 
they  ascend  is  one  thousand  years  ;  because  that  is  meant  only  of 


APPENDIX.  523 

their  ascent  from  earth  to  the  lower  heaven,  including  also  the 
time  of  their  descent.  But  the  commentators  generally  taking  tbe 
day  spoken  of  in  both  these  passages  to  be  the  day  of  judgment, 
have  recourse  to  several  expedients  to  reconcile  them,  some  of 
which  we  have  mentioned  in  another  place  ;  and  as  both  passages 
seem  to  contradict  what  the  Mohammedan  doctors  teach,  that  God 
will  judge  all  creatures  in  the  space  of  half  a  day,  they  suppose 
those  large  numbers  of  years  are  designed  to  express  the  time  of 
the  previous  attendance  of  those  who  are  to  be  judged;  or  else  to 
the  space  wherein  God  will  judge  the  unbelieving  nations,  of 
which  they  say  there  will  be  fifty,  the  trial  of  each  nation  taking 
up  one  thousand  years,  though  that  of  the  true  believers  will  be 
over  in  the  short  space  above  mentioned. 

Page  447:  (1).  Some  take  these  words  to  be  spoken  of  Adam, 
whose  body,  according  to  Mohammedan  tradition,  was  at  first  a 
figure  of  clay,  and  was  left  forty  years  to  dry  before  God  breathed 
life  into  it,  others  understand  them  of  man  in  general  and  of  the 
time  he  lies  in  the  womb. 

Page  451:  (1).  These  are  the  angel  of  death  and  his  assistants, 
who  will  take  the  souls  of  the  wicked  in  a  rough  and  cruel  maH- 
ner  from  the  inmost  part  of  their  bodies,  as  a  man  drags  up  a 
thine  from  the  bottom  of  the  sea  ;  but  will  take  the  souls  of  the 
good  in  a  gentle  and  easy  manner  from  their  lips,  as  when  a  man 
draws  a  bucket  of  water  at  one  pull.  There  are  several  other  in- 
terpretations of  this  whole  passage,  some  expounding  all  the  five 
parts  of  the  oath  of  the  stars,  others  of  the  souls  of  men,  otbers 
of  the  souls  of  warriors  in  particular,  and  others  of  war-horses  ; 
a  detail  of  which,  I  apprehend,  would  rather  tire  than  please. 

Page  455:  (1).  Is  the  name  of  the  general  register,  wherein 
the  actions  of  all  the  wicked,  both  men  and  genii,  are  distinctly 
entered.  Sejn  signifies  a  prison;  and  this  book,  as  some  think, 
derives  it  name  from  thence,  because  it  will  occasion  those  whose 
deeds  are  there  recorded  to  be  imprisoned  in  hell.  Sejjin,  or 
Bajin,  is  also  the  name  of  the  dungeon  beneath  the  seventh  earth, 
the  residence  of  Eblis  and  his  host,  where,  it  is  supposed  by 
eonie,  that  this  book  is  kept,  and  where  the  souls  of  the  wicked 
will  be  detained  till  the  resurrection.  If  the  latter  explication  be 
admitted,  the  words,  And  what  shall  make  thee  to  understand 
what  Sejjin  is?  should  be  enclosed  within  a  parenthesis. 

Page  456:  (1).  The  word  is  a  plural,  and  signifies  high  places. 
Some  say  it  is  the  general  register  wherein  tbe  actions  of  the 
righteous,  whether  angels,  men,  or  geuii,  are  distinctly  recorded 
Others  will  have  it  to  be  a  place  in  the  seventh  heaven,  nudei 
the  throne  of  God,  where  this  book  is  kept,  and  where  the  souls 
of  the  just,  as  many  think,  will  remain  till  the  last  day.  If  we 
prefer  the  latter  opinion,  the  words,  And  what  shall  make  thee  to 
understand  what  llliyy&n  is?  should  likewise  be  enclosed  in  a 
parenthesis. 


&24  APPENDIX. 

Page  457:  (1).  Literally,  the  lords  of  the  pit.  These  were  the 
ministers  of  the  persecution  raised  by  Dim  Nowas,  king  of  Yamau. 
who  was  of  the  Jewish  religion,  against  the  inhabitants  of 
Najran;  for  they  having  embraced  Christianity  (at  that  time  the 
true  religion,  by  the  confession  of  Mohammed  himself),  the  big- 
oted tyrant  commanded  all  those  who  would  not  renounce  their 
faith  to  be  cast  into  a  pit,  or  trench,  filled  with  fire,  and  there 
burnt  to  ashes.  Others,  however,  tell  the  story  with  different 
circumstances. 

Page  460:  (1).  Or  pillars.  Some  imagine  these  words  are  used 
to  express  the  great  size  and  strength  of  the  old  Adites  ;  and  then 
they  should  be  translated,  who  were  of  enormous  stature.  But  the 
more  exact  commentators  take  the  passage  to  relate  to  the  sumptu- 
ous palace  and  delightful  gardens  built  and  made  by  Sheddad  the 
son  of  Ad.  For  they  say  Ad  left  two  sous,  Sheddad  and  Sheddid, 
who  reigned  jointly  after  his  decease,  and  extended  their  power 
over  the  greater  part  of  the  world;  but  Sheddid  dying,  his  brother 
became  sole  monarch;  who,  having  heard  of  the  celestial  paradise, 
made  a  garden  in  imitation  thereof,  in  the  deserts  of  Aden,  and 
called  it  Irem,  after  the  name  of  his  great-grandfather  ;  when  it 
was  finished  he  set  out,  with  a  great  attendance,  to  take  a  view  of 
it ;  but  when  they  were  come  within  a  day's  journey  of  the  place, 
they  were  all  destroyed  by  a  terrible  noise  from  heaven.  Al 
Beidawi  adds  that  one  Abdallah  Ebn  Kelabah  (whom,  after  D'her- 
belot,  I  have  elsewhere  named  Colabah)  accidentally  hit  on  this 
wonderful  place,  as  he  was  seeking  a  camel. 

Page  465:  (1).  The  word  al  Kadr  signifies  power  and  honor  or 
dignity,  and  also  the  divine  decree ;  and  the  night  is  so  named 
either  from  its  excellence  above  all  other  nights  in  the  year,  or 
because,  as  the  Mohammedans  believe,  the  divine  decrees  for  the 
ensuing  year  are  annually  on  this  night  fixed  and  settled,  or  taken 
from  the  preserved  table  by  God's  throne,  and  given  to  the  angels 
to  be  executed.  On  this  night  Mohammed  received  his  first  revela- 
tions ;  when  the  Koran,  say  the  commentators,  was  sent  down 
from  the  aforesaid  table,  entire  and  in  one  volume,  to  the  lowest 
heaven,  from  whence  Gabriel  revealed  it  to  Mohammed  by  par- 
cels, as  occasion  required.  The  Moslem  doctors  are  not  agreed 
where  to  fix  the  night  of  al  Kadr  ;  the  greater  part  are  of  opin- 
ion that  it  is  one  of  the  ten  last  nights  of  Ramadan,  and,  as  is 
commonly  believed,  the  seventh  of  those  nights,  reckoning  back- 
ward; by  which  means  it  will  fall  between  the  23rd  and  24th  days 
of  that  month. 

Page  469:  (1).  This  chapter  relates  to  the  following  piece  of 
history,  which  is  famous  among  the  Arabs  ;  Abraha  Ebn  al 
Sabah,  surnamed  al  Ashram,  i.e.,  the  Slit-nosed,  king  or  viceroy 
of  Yaman,  who  was  an  Ethiopian,  and  of  the  Christian  religion, 
having  built  a  magnificent  church  at  Sanaa  with  a  design  to  draw 
the  Arabs  to  go  in  pilgrimage  thither,  instead  of  visiting, the  tem- 
ple of  Mecca,  the  Koreish,  observing  the  devotion  and  concourse 
ef  the  pilgrims  at  the  Caaba  began  considerably  to  diminish,  sent 


APPENDIX. 


525 


onp  Nofail,  as  he  is  named  by  some  of  tLe  tribe  of  Kenanah  who 
getting  into  the  aforesaid  church  by  night,  defiled  the  altar  and 
walls  thereof  with  his  excrements.  "  At  this  profanation  Abraha 
being  highly  incensed,  vowed  the  destruction  of  the  Caaba  and 
accordingly  set  out  against  Mecca  at  the  head  of  a  considerable 
army,  wherein  were  several  elephants,  which  he  had  obtained  of 
the  king  of  Ethiopia,  their  numbers  being,  as  some  say,  thirteen 
though  others  mention  but  one.     The  Meccans,  at  the  approach  of 
so  considerable  a  host,  retired  to  the  neighboring  mountains,  be- 
ing unable  to  defend  their  city  or  temple;  but  Uod  himself  under- 
took the  protection  of  both.      For  when  Abraha  drew  near  to 
Mecca,  and  would  have  entered  it,  the  elephant  on  which  he  rode, 
which  was  a  very  large  one,  and  named  Mahmfld,  refused  to  ad- 
vance any  nigher  to  the  town,  but  knelt  down  whenever  they  en- 
deavored to  force  him  that  way,  though  he  would  rise  and  march 
briskly  enough  if  they  turned  him  toward  any  other  quarter;  and 
while  matters  were  in  this  posture,  on  a  sudden  a  large  flock  of 
birds,  like  swallows,  came  flying  from  the  sea  coast,  every  one  of 
which  carried  three  stones,  one  in  each  foot,  and  one  in   its  bill  ; 
and  these  stones  they  threw  down  upon  the  heads  of  Abraba'.s 
men,  certainly  killing  every  one  they  struck.     Then  God  sent  a 
flood,  which  swept  the  dead  bodies,  and  some  of  those  who  had 
not  been  struck  by  the  stones,  into  the  sea;   the  rest  fled  toward 
Yaman,  but  perished  by  the  way  ;  none  of  them  reaching  Sanaa, 
except  only  Abraha  himself,  who  died  soon  after  his  arrival  there, 
being  struck   with  a  sort  of  plague  or  putrefaction,  so  that  hia 
body  opened,  and  his   limbs  rotted  off  by  piecemeal.     It  is  said 
that  one  of  Abraha's  army,  named  Abu  Yacsum,  escaped  over  the 
Red  Sea  into  Ethiopia,  and  going  directly  to  the  king,  told  hint 
the  tragical  story  ;  and  upon  that  prince's  asking  him  what  sort 
of  birds  they  were  that  had  occasioned  such  a  destruction,  the 
man  pointed  to  one  of  them,  which  had  followed  him  all  the  way, 
and  was  at  that  time  hovering  directly  over  his  head,  when   im- 
mediately the  bird  let  fall  the  stone,  and  struck  him  dead  at  the 
king's  feet.     This  remarkable   defeat  of  Abraha  happened   the 
very  year  Mohammed  was  born,  and  as  this  chapter  was  revealed 
before  the  Hejra,  and  within  fifty-four  years,  at  leant,  after  it 
came  to  pass,  when  several  persons  who  could  have  detected  the 
lie,  had  Mohammed  forged  this  story  out  of  his  own  head,  were 
alive,  it  seems   as  if  there  was  really  something  extraordinary  in 
the  matter,  which  might,    by  adding  some  circumstances,  have 
been  worked  up  into  a  miracle  to  his  hands.     Marracci  judges  the 
whole  to  be  either  a  fable,  or  else  a  feat  of  some  evil  spirits,  of 
which  he  gives  a  parallel  instance,  as  he  thinks,  in  the  strange 
defeat  of  Brennus,  when  he  was  marching  to  attack  the  temple  of 
Apollo  at  Delphi.      Dr.    Prideaux  directly  charges  Mohammed 
with  coining  this  miracle,  notwithstanding  he  might  have  been 
so  easily  disproved,  and  supposes,  without  any  foundation,  that 
this  chapter  might  not  have  been  published  till  Othman's  edition 
of  the  Koran,  which  was  many  years  after,  when  all  might  be 


526  APPENDIX. 

dead  who  could  remember  anything  of  the  above-mentioned  war 
But  Mohammed  had  no  occasion  to  coin  such  a  miracle  himself 
to  gain  the  temple  of  Mecca  any  greater  veneration  ;  the  Meccans 
were  but  too  superstitiously  fond  of  it,  and  obliged  him,  against 
his  inclinations  and  original  design,  to  make  it  the  chief  place  of 
his  new  invented  worship.  I  cannot,  however,  but  observe  Dr. 
Prideaux's  partiality  on  this  occasion,  compared  with  the  favorable 
reception  he  gives  to  the  story  of  the  miraculous  overthrow  of 
Brennus  and  his  army,  which  he  concludes  in  the  following 
words:  "  Thus  was  God  pleased  in  a  very  extraordinary  manner 
to  execute  his  vengeance  upon  those  sacrilegious  wretches  for  the 
sake  of  religion  in  general,  how  false  and  idolatrous  soever  that 
particular  religion  was,  for  which  that  temple  at  Delphos 
was  erected."  If  it  be  answered,  that  the  Gauls  believed  the  re- 
ligion, to  the  devotions  of  which  that  temple  was  consecrated,  to 
be  true  (though  that  be  not  certain),  and  therefore  it  was  an  im- 
piety in  them  to  offer  violence  to  it,  whereas  Abraha  acknowledged 
not  the  holiness  of  the  Caaba,  or  the  worship  there  practiced  ;  I 
reply,  that  the  doctor,  on  occasion  of  Cambyses  being  killed  by  a 
wound  he  accidentally  received  in  the  same  part  of  the  body 
where  he  had  before  mortally  wounded  the  Apis,  or  bull  wor- 
shiped by  the  Egyptians,  whose  religion  and  worship  that  princa 
most  certainly  believed  to  be  false  and  superstitious,  makes  the 
same  reflection:  "  The  Egyptians,"  says  he,  "  reckoned  this  as  an 
especial  judgment  from  heaven  upon  him  for  that  fact,  and  per- 
chance they  were  not  much  out  in  it  ;  for  it  seldom,  happening  in 
an  affront  given  to  any  mode  of  worship,  how  erroneous  soever  it 
may  be,  but  that  religion  is  in  general  wounded  hereby,  there  are 
many  instances  in  history,  wherein  God  hath  very  signally  pun- 
ished the  profanations  of  religion  in  the  worst  of  times,  and  under 
the  worst  modes  of  heathen  idolatry." 


INDEX. 

Abraham  demolishes  the  idols  of  the  Chaldeans,  266;  preaches  to 
his  people,  314;  his  religion  commended,  68,  69,  93,  147 ;  dis- 
putes with  Nimrod,  82  ;  escapes  the  fire  into  which  he  was 
thrown  by  Nirnrod's  order,  267  ;  his  praying  for  his  father, 
182,  423;  desires  to  be  convinced  of  the  resurrection,  82;  his 
sacrifice  of  birds,  83;  entertains  the  angels,  198,  401;  receives 
the  promise  of  Isaac,  198  ;  called  the  friend  of  God,  115  ;  his 
sacrifice  of  his  son,  350;  praises  God  for  Isiuael  and  Isaac,  219; 
commanded,  together  with  Ismael,  to  build  and  cleanse  the 
Caaba,  68  ;  prays  to  God  to  raise  up  a  prophet  of  their  seed, 
and  for  the  plenty  and  security  of  Mecca,  68  ;  bequeaths  the 
religion  of  Islam  to  his  children,  68. 

Ad,  a  potent  tribe  of  Arabs,  destroyed  for  their  infidelity,  153, 
277,  298,  369,  388,  382,  461.  Vide  Hud. 

Adam,  worshiped  by  the  angels,  60,  148,  221,  246,  355 ;  his  fall, 
60,  149;  repents  and  prays,  60. 

Adoption  creates  no  matrimonial  impediment,  828. 

Adulterers,  Mohammed's  sentence  against  them,  88. 

Adultery,  its  punishment,  88,  105;  what  evidence  required  to  con- 
vict a  woman  of  it,  104. 

Adversaries,  the  dispute  of  two  terminated  by  David,  355. 

Ahmed,  the  name  under  which  Mohammed  was  foretold  by 
Christ,  425. 

Al  Ahkaf,  the  habitation  of  the  Adites,  387. 

Aila,  or  Elath,  the  Sabbath-breakers  there  changed  into  apes,  62, 
161. 

Alexander,  vide  Dhu'lkarnein. 

Allat,  an  idol  of  the  Koreish,  115,  405. 

Alms  recommended,  60,  66,  76,  144,  178. 

Amena,  Mohammed's  mother;  he  is  not  permitted  to  pray  for  her, 
182. 

Amru  Ebn  Lohai,  the  great  introducer  of  idolatry  among  the 
Arabs,  144. 

Angels,  their  original,  148,  355  ;  worship  Adam,  vide  Adam  ;  of 
different  forms  and  orders,  889  ;  not  the  objects  of  worship, 
276;  nor  ought  to  be  hated,65;  the  number  of  them  which  sup- 
port God's  throne,437;  are  deputed  to  take  an  account  of  men's 
actions,  399  ;  some  of  them  appointed  to  take  the  souls  of 
men,  451  ;  to  preside  over  hell,  and  to  keep  guard  againat  the 
devils,  445  ;  assist  the  Moslems  at  Bedr.  86,  168  •  believed  by 


528  INDEX. 

the  Arabs  to  be  daughters  of  God,  114,  228;  appear  to  Abra- 
ham and  Lot,  198,  199,  401. 

Animals,  created  of  water,  286. 

Ansars,  or  helpers,  three  of  them  excommunicated  for  refusing  to 
attend  Mohammed  to  Tabuc,  182. 

Ants,  the  valley  of,  301';  their  queen's  speech  to  them  on  the  ap- 
proach of  Solomon's  army,  301. 

Apostles  were  not  believed  who  wrought  miracles,  99  ;  those  be- 
fore Mohammed  accused  likewise  of  imposture,  100,  134 ;  of 
Christ,  90  ;  two  of  them  sent  to  preach  at  Antioch,  343. 

Apparel,  what  kind  ought  to  be  worn  by  those  who  approach  the 
divine  presence,  150. 

Arabians,  their  acuteness,  147  ;  in  burying  their  daughters  alive, 
144,  454;  their  superstitions  in  relation  to  eating,  144,  287 ; 
and  in  relation  to  cattle,  114,  130  ;  quit  their  new  religion  in 
great  numbers  on  Mohammed's  death,  124. 

Arabs  of  the  Desert  more  obstinate,  180. 

Arafat,  Mount,  the  procession  thereto,  74. 

Arrows  for  divination  forbidden,  129. 

Al  As  Ebn  Wayel,  an  enemy  of  Mohammed's,  223,  255. 

Ashama,  king  of  Ethiopia,  prayed  for  after  his  death  by  Moham- 
med, 101. 

Asia,  the  wife  of  Pharaoh,  one  of  the  four  perfect  women,  432. 

Astrology,  hinted  at,  101. 

Al  Aswad  Ebn  Abd  Yaghuth,  al  Aswad  Ebn  al  Motalleb,  two  of 
Mohammed's  enemies,  223. 

Backbiting,  vide  Slander. 

Bahira,  130. 

Balkis,  queen  of  Saba,  visits  Solomon,  and  her  reception,  302;  her 

legs  hairy,  302;  marries  Solomon,  302. 
Becca,  the  same  with  mecca,  93. 
Bedr,  Mohammed's  victory  there,  etc.,  86,  95. 
Bees,  made  use  of  as  a  similitude,  228. 
Believers ;  the  sincere  ones,  described,  276 ;  their  reward,  108 ; 

their  sentence,  151. 
Benjamin,  son  of  Jacob,  etc. ,  206. 
Blessed,  their  future  happiness  described,  345,  881. 
Blood  forbidden,  71. 
Boheira,  the  monk,  231. 
Bribery  to  pervert  justice  forbidden,  73. 
Burden,  every  soul  to  bear  its  own,  340. 

Al  Caaba,  appointed  for  a  place  of  worship,  272;  built  and  cleansed 

by  Abraham  and  Ismael,  67. 
Cafur,  a  fountain  in  paradise,  447. 
Cain  and  Abel,  their  sacrifices,   123  ;  Cain  kills  his  brother,  123  ; 

instructed  by  a  raven  to  bury  him,  ib. 
Caleb,  vide  Joshua. 
Calf,  the  golden,  of  what  and  by  whom  made,  61  ;  animated,  ib.j 

worshiped  by  the  Israelites,  ib. 


INDEX.  529 

Calumny  forbidden,  116. 

Camels,  an  instance  of  God's  wisdom,  460;  appointed  for  sacrifice, 

44o. 

Canaan,  an  unbelieving  son  of  Noah,  196;  caravans  of  purveyors 

sent  out  by  the  Koreish,  469. 
Carrion  forbidden  to  be  eaten,  71. 
Cattle,  their  use,  145,  368;  superstitions  of  the  old  Arabs  concern- 

ing  them,  145. 

Al  Cawthar,  a  river  in  paradise,  470. 
Charity  recommended,  106,  447. 
Chastity  commended,  120. 

Children,  to  inherit  their  parents'  substance,  78,  102. 
Christ,  vide  Jesus. 
Christians  declared  infidels,  121;  and  enemies  of  the  Moslems,  ib. 

Vide  Jews. 

Collars  to  be  worn  by  the  unbelievers  in  life  to  come,  211. 
Commerce  from  God,  277. 
Companions  of  God,  what,  144. 

Congealed  blood,  the  matter  of  which  man  is  created,  464. 
Contracts  to  be  performed,  119. 
t  V>\v  ordered  to  be  sacrificed  by  the  Israelites,  62. 
Creation,  some  account  of  it,  369. 
Crimes  to  be  punished  with  death,  235. 

David  kills  Goliah,  81,  234;  his  extraordinary  devotion,  353  ;  the 
birds  and  mountains  sing  praises  with  him, 335;  makes  breast, 
plates,  81  ;  his  repentance  for  taking  the  wife  of  Uriah,  353  ; 
his  and  Solomon's  judgment,  267. 

Days  appointed  to  commemorate  God,  272. 

Dead  body  raised  to  life  by  a  part  of  the  sacrificed  Cow,  62. 

Debtors  to  be  mercifully  dealt  with,  84. 

Devil,  vide  Eblis  and  Satan;  the  occasion  of  his  fall,  60,  148. 

Devils  included  under  the  name  Genii,  143  ;  the  patrons  of  un- 
believers, 99, 149,  299;  their  plot  to  defame  Solomon,  63,  were 
permitted  to  enter  all  the  seven  heavens  till  the  birth  of 
Christ,  221. 

Dhu'lkarnein,  builds  a  wall  to  prevent  the  incursions  of  Gog  and 
Magog.  249. 

Dhu'lkefl,  the  prophet,  opinions  concerning  him,  268  ;  saves  a 
hundred  Israelites  from  slaughter,  855. 

Dhu'lnun,  vide  Jonas. 

Dhu  Nowas,  king  of  Tainan,  a  Jew,  persecutes  the  Christiana, 
457. 

Disputes  to  be  carried  on  with  mildness,  316. 

Ditch,  War  of  the,  828. 

Divorce,  laws  concerning  it,  78,  102,  331,  429. 

Dogs,  etc.,  allowed  to  be  trained  up  for  hunting,  120. 

Drink  of  the  damned,  138. 

Earth,  its  creation,  369  ;  is  kept  steady  by  the  mountains,  225, 
823. 


530  INDEX. 

Earthquake,  a  sign  of  the  approach  of  the  last  day,  466. 

Eblis  refuses  to  worship  Adam  at  God's  command,  and  why,  61. 

148,  221,  238,  246;  his  sentence,  ib.;  occasions  the  fall  at 

Adam,  ib. 

Eden,  the  meaning  of  the  word  in  Arabic,  178. 
Edris,  supposed  to  be  the  same  with  Enoch,  258. 
Education  makes  a  man  an  infidel,  322. 
Elephant,  War  of  the,  469. 
Elias,  vide  al  Khedr. 
Elisha,  the  prophet,  139. 
Enoch,  vide  Edris. 
Entering  into  houses  and  apartments  abruptly  forbidden,  284 

287. 

Envy  forbidden,  106. 
Esop,  vide  Lokman. 

Eucharist,  seems  to  have  occasioned  a  fable  in  the  Koran,  132. 
Eve,  vide  Adam. 
Evidence,  vide  Witness. 
Evil,  vide  Good. 
Exhortation  to  the  worship  of  God,  362  ;  to  a  good  life,  200. 

Faith  must  accompany  good  works,  193  ;  the  reward  of  those  who 
fight  for  it,  165,  171,  174,  234,  391,  424  ;  apostates  from  it  to 
be  put  to  death,  235. 

Famine  ceases  at  Mohammed's  intercession,  280. 

Fast  of  Ramadan  instituted,  73. 

Fidelity  recommended,  171. 

Fishing  allowed  during  the  pilgrimage,  130. 

Flood,  vide  Noah. 

Food,  what  kinds  are  forbidden,  71,  119,  142,  145,  232,  287. 

Forgiveness,  to  whom  it  belongs,  330. 

Fornication  forbidden,  103,  105  ;  its  punishment,  103,  105,  282. 

Fountain  of  molten  brass  flows  for  Solomon,  335. 

Fountain  of  paradise,  447,  448,  456. 

Friendship  with  unbelievers  forbidden,  125. 

Fruits  of  the  earth,  their  production  an  instance  of  God's  power 
141. 

Fugitives  for  the  sake  of  religion  shall  be  provided  for  and  re- 
warded, 112,  275. 

Gabriel  revealed  the  Koran  to  Mohammed,  65;  assists  the  Moslem? 
at  Bedr,86;  appears  twice  to  Mohammed  in  his  proper  form, 405; 
appears  to  the  Virgin  Mary,  and  causes  her  to  conceive,  251 
the  dust  of  his  horse's  feet  animate  the  golden  calf,  260  ;  gen 
erally  appeared  to  Mohammed  in  a  human  form,  134. 

Gaming  forbidden,  76,  129. 

Garden,  story  of  the,  435. 

Genii,  some  of  them  converted  on  hearing  the  Koran,  441. 

God,  proofs  of  his  existence,  319;  his  omnipresence  asserted,  419  ; 
his  omnipotence,  80,  414;  his  power  and  providence  conspicu 


INDEX.  531 

cms  in  bis  works,  71,  192,  384,  449  ;  his  omniscience  asserted, 
112,  334,  372;  knoweth  the  secrets  of  men's  hearts,  305  ;  and 
of  futurity,  442 ;  his  goodness  set  forth,  75,  188,  224,  406, 
409  ;  in  sending  the  scriptures  and  prophets,  75,  143  ;  the 
author  of  all  good,  229;  his  word,  laws,  and  sentence  unaltera- 
ble, 142,  320,  399;  bis  mercy  set  forth,  96,  292,  310,  375,  405; 
the  only  giver  of  victory,  96,  319;  his  promise  to  the  righteous, 
.  323 ;  who  acceptable  to  him,  173 ;  ruleth  the  heart  of  man, 
166  ;  his  tribunal,  80  ;  his  throne,  192  ;  ought  not  to  be  fre- 
quently sworn  by,  77;  hath  no  issue,  67,  188,  280  ;  nor  simili- 
tude, 823,  356;  rested  not  the  seventh  day  through  weariness, 
400 ;  his  worship  recommended,  ib. :  his  fear  recommended, 
186. 

Gog  and  Magog,  249,  268. 

Goliah,  videJalut. 

Good  and  evil  both  from  Godk  110. 

Gospel,  vide  Jesus. 

Greeks  overcome  the  Persians,  318. 

Baman,  Pharaoh's  chief  minister,  306,  309. 

Hami,  130. 

Earetha  (Banu),  reproached  by  Mohammed  for  flying  in  battle, 
329. 

Harut  and  Marut,  two  angels,  their  story  and  punishment,  65. 

Heathens,  justice  not  to  be  observed  with  regard  to  them  accord- 
ing to  the  Jews,  91. 

Heavens,  guarded  by  angels,  441 ;  and  earth  manifest  God's  wis- 
dom, 263:  will  fall  at  the  last  day,  275. 

Al  Heir,  the  habitation  of  the  Thamudites,  220. 

Hell  torments  described,  271,  413,  449;  the  portion  of  unbelievers, 
94,  193;  prepared  for  those  who  choose  the  pomp  of  this  life, 
193;  and  hoard  up  money,  174. 

Honein,  the  battle  of,  173. 

Honey,  an  excellent  medicine,  229. 

Hospitality  recommended,  106. 

Al  Hotaina,  the  name  of  an  apartment  in  hell,  469. 

Hud,  the  prophet,  his  story,  153. 

Hunting  and  fowling  forbidden  during  the  pilgrimage,  119, 129. 

Husband,  his  superiority  over  the  wife,  78  ;  his  duty  to  her,  78, 
etc.;  difference  between  them  to  be  reconciled  by  friends,  106, 
115.  See  Divorce,  Wives,  Marriages,  etc. 

Hypocrites  described,  427,  etc. ;  their  sentence,  177. 

Idolaters  compared  to  brutes,  291  ;  to  a  spider,  816 ;  not  to  be 
prayed  for  while  such,  182;  their  sentence,  150. 

Idolatry,  the  heinousness  thereof,  76 ;  unpardonable,  if  not  re- 
pented of,  107. 

Idols,  their  insignificancy,  71,  27-5,  836 ;  will  appear  as  witnesses 
against  their  worshipers,  186 ;  worshiped  by  the  antodilu- 
Tians,  440. 


532  INDEX. 

Immodesty  condemned,  284. 

Immunity  declared  to  the  idolaters  for  four  months,  171. 

Imposture  charged  on  all  the  prophets,  278. 

Imran,  father  of  the  Virgin  Mary,  86. 

Infidels,  how  they  will  appear  at  the  last  day,  135 ;  will  drink 
boiling  water,  138;  would  have  believed,  had  the  Koran  been 
revealed  to  some  great  man,  377  ;  if  not  convinced  by  the 
Koran,  will  not  be  convinced  by  miracles,  142  ;  have  some 
notion  of  a  future  state,  304  ;  their  blasphemy,  352  ;  to  be 
made  war  upon,  73;  those  who  die  such  not  to  be  prayed  for, 
179;  forbidden  to  approach  Mecca,  173. 

Inheritances,  laws  relating  thereto,  103,  118. 

Injury,  to  forgive  the  same  is  meritorious,  375. 

Intercalation  of  a  month  forbidden,  174. 

Irem,  the  city  of  Ad,  460. 

Iron,  its  usefulness,  414  ;  some  utensils  of  that  metal  brought  by 
Adam  down  from  paradise,  ib. 

Isaac  promised,  198;  his  birth,  ib. 

Islam,  the  only  true  religion,  92 :  the  only  religion  till  the  death 
of  Abel,  185. 

Ismael,  vide  Abraham. 

Israelites,  their  males  slain  by  Pharaoh,  61 ;  pass  the  Red  Sea,  158; 
God's  goodness  to  them,  ib.,  385;  miraculously  fed  in  the 
wilderness,  161;  lust  for  the  herbs  of  Egypt,  62;*  worship  the 
golden  calf,  61,  159  ;  their  punishment,  61  ;  change  the  word 
put  into  their  mouth  at  Jericho,  62,  161;  commanded  to  sacri- 
fice a  red  cow,  62.  etc. ;  demand  to  see  God,  and  their  punish- 
ment, 117  ;  refuse  to  enter  the  Holy  Laud,  and  their  punish- 
ment, 122  ;  their  transgression,  234  ;  desire  a  king,  80;  cursed 
by  David  and  Jesus,  128.  Vide  Jews. 

Jacob  bequeaths  the  religion  of  Islam  to  his  children,  68  ;  grows 
blind  by  weeping  for  the  loss  of  Joseph,  208  ;  recovers  his 
sight  by  means  of  Joseph's  garment,  and  goes  into  Egypt, 

Jahl  (Abu),  a  great  enemy  of  Mohammed,  271. 

Jalut,  or  Goliah,  slain  by  David,  81. 

Jesus  promised  to  Mary,  89;  his  miraculous  birth,  89;  compared  to 
Adam,  90;  speaks  in  his  mother's  womb,  105;  an<*  in  his  cradle, 
ib. ;  the  apostle  of  the  Jews,  ib. ;  causes  a  table  with  provis 
ions  to  descend  from  heaven,  1 32 ;  his  miracles  deemed  sor- 
cery, 132;  rejected  by  the  Jews,  90;  sends  two  of  his  disciples 
to  Antioch,  who  work  miracles,  343  ;  a  curse  denounced 
against  those  who  believe  not  on  him,  90 ;  the  Jews  lay  a 
plot  for  his  life,  but  are  disappointed,  90;  not  really  crucified, 
ib.,  117;  whether  he  died  or  not,  90  ;  not  God  nor  equal  to  God, 
122,  173;  but  an  apostle  only,  81,  380;  the  Word  of  God,  89; 
various  opinions  concerning  him,  251. 

Jethro,  vide  Shoa-ib. 

Jews,  vide  Israelites;  particularly  applied  to,  60,  66;  plot  against 


INDEX. 


533 


Jesus,  90 ;  their  unbelief,  64  ;  covetous  of  life,  64  ;  reproved 
for  warring  against  one  another,  64  ;  proof  required  by  them 
of  a  prophet's  mission,  100  ;  their  punishments  at  different 
times  for  neglect  of  their  religion,  120  ;  metamorphosed  into 
apes  and  swine  for  their  infidelity,  62,  126,  132;  pretend  their 
punishment  in  hell  shall  be  short,  64,  88;  their  law  confirmed 
by  Jesus  and  the  Koran,  125  ;  their  laws  concerning  food, 
145;  dispute  with  the  Mohammedans  concerning  God's  favor, 
271  ;  Mohammed  refuses  to  decide  a  controversy  between 
them,  125;  league  with  the  Koreish  against  Mohammed,  108; 
demand  that  Mohammed  cause  a  book  to  descend  from  heaven, 
117;  controversy  between  a  Jew  and  a  Mohammedan,  108. 

Jews  and  Christians  accused  of  condemning  one  another,  66 ; 
and  of  corrupting  the  scriptures,  91  ;  guilty  of  two  extremes 
as  to  their  opinion  of  Christ,  118  ;  none  of  them  shall  die  be- 
fore he  believes  in  Christ,  117;  their  different  behavior  to  the 
Moslems,  128;  to  be  protected  on  payment  of  tribute,  173. 

Job,  his  story,  268,  354. 

John,  the  son  of  Zacharias,  his  character,  89;  his  murder  revenged 
on  the  Jews  by  Nebuchadnezzar,  234  ;  the  miracle  of  his 
blood,  ib. 

Jonada  first  practices  the  intercalation  of  a  month  among  the 
Arabs,  174. 

Jonas,  his  story,  191,  352,  436;  called  Dhu'lnun,  268. 

Joseph,  his  story,  202. 

Joshua  and  Caleb  sent  as  spies  into  the  land  of  Canaan,  122. 

Journey,  Mohammed's  to  heaven,  234. 

Judgment  (day  of),  the  Mohammedan  tradition  concerning  it,  88  ; 
described,  289,  426,  428,  437,  454  ;  the  signs  of  its  approach, 
392;  called  the  Hour,  135  ;  unknown  to  any  besides  God,  163 ; 
will  come  suddenly,  ib. ;  and  inevitably,  187. 

Al  Judi,  the  mountain  whereon  Noah's  ark  rested,  195. 

Just  and  unjust,  the  difference  between  them,  375. 

Al  Kadr,  the  name  of  the  night  on  which  the  Koran  came  down 
from  heaven,  465.  , 

Kariin  (or  Corah),  his  story  and  fearful  end,  312. 

Kebla,  indifferent,  66,  changed  from  Jerusalem  to  Mecca,  68,  69, 

Ehawla  bint  Thalaba,  her  case  occasions  a  passage  of  the  Koran, 
417. 

A'  Khedr,  the  prophet,  his  adventures  with  Moses,  247. 

Iv<-ran  could  not  be  composed  by  any  besides  God,  187  .  men  and 
genii  defied  to  produce  a  chapter  like  it,  ib.,  240;  no  forgery, 
437;  sent  down  by  God  himself,  142 ;  its  excellency,  812  ; 
consonant  to  scripture,  193,  310;  no  revelation  more  evident, 
163;  contains  all  things  necessary,  136,  280;  all  differences  to 
be  decided  by  it,  105  ;  its  contents  partly  literal  and  partly 
figurative,  86;  traduced  by  the  unbeliever!,  888;  as  a  piece  <>f 
sorcery,  183;  as  a  poetical  composition,  346;  as  a  pack  of  fa- 
bles, 225  ;  the  sentence  of  those  who  believe  not  in  it,  885  ; 


534  INDEX. 

when  revealed,  384;  not  liable  to  corruption,  192  ;  ought  not 
to  be  touched  by  the  unclean,  414. 

Koreish  (the  tribe  of),  their  nobility,  469;  demand  miracles  of  him, 
214;  threaten  him  for  abusing  their  gods,  359;  propound  three 
questions  to  him,  240;  some  of  them  attempt  to  kill  him,  but 
are  struck  blind,  343  ;  lose  seventy  of  their  principal  men  at 
Bedr,  86,  168 ;  persecute  Mohammed's  followers,  224  ;  and 
several  diseases,  223;  their  manner  of  praying,  167. 

Lapwing  gives  Solomon  an  account  of  the  city  of  Saba,  301;  car- 
ries a  letter  from  him  to  the  queen,  ib. ;  her  sagacity  in  find- 
ing water,  ib. 

Last  day,  vide  Judgment. 

Law  given  to  Moses,  61;  confirmed  by  Jesus,  89;  and  the  Koran,  60. 

Laws  relating  to  inheritances,  102,  118  ;  legacies,  72,  139  ;  to  di- 
vorce, vide  Divorce;  to  murder,  vide  Murder,  etc. 

Leith  (Banu)  thought  it  unlawful  to  eat  alone,  287. 

Lokman,  his  history,  323;  whether  the  same  with  Esop,  323. 

Lot,  his  story,  154,  198;  his  wife's  infidelity,  432. 

Lote-tree  in  heaven,  405. 

Lots  forbidden,  76,  128. 

Madian,  a  city  of  Hejaz,  154;  its  inhabitants  destroyed,  299. 

Magog,  vide  Gog. 

Malec,  the  principal  angel  who  has  the  charge  of  hell,  381. 

Man,  his  wonderful  formation,  358  ;  created  various  ways,  270  ; 
shall  be  rewarded  according  to  his  deserts,  106  ;  ought  to  be 
thankful  for  the  good  things  of  this  life,  346  ;  his  ingratitude 
to  God,  321;  his  presumption  in  undertaking  to  fulfill  the  laws 
of  God,  363  ;  why  destroyed,  202. 

Manna  given  to  the  Israelites,  62. 

Marriage,  laws  relating  thereto,  103;  Mohammed's  privileges  as  to 
marriage,  332,  etc. ;  apt  to  distract  a  man  from  his  duty,  428. 

Martyrs,  not  dead  but  living,  70;  the  sufferings  of  twp  Mohamme- 
dans, 232. 

Marut,  vide  Harut. 

Mary,  the  Virgin,  her  story,  251;  free  from  original  sin,  88,  miracu- 
ously  fed,  ib. ;  calumniated  by  the  Jews,  117  ;  a  woman  of 
veracity,  128. 

Al  Masher  al  Haram ,  74. 

Masud  (Ebn),  a  tradition  of  his  in  relation  to  Pharaoh,  366. 

Maturity  of  age,  102. 

Measure  ought  to  be  just,  154,  455. 

Mecca,  the  security  and  plenty  of  that  city,  93.     See  Caaba. 

Meccans,  their  idolatry  and  superstitions  condemned,  144,  318  ; 
imagined  their  idols  interceded  for  them  with  God,  183  ;  re- 
proached for  their  ingratitude,  218;  threatened  with  destruc- 
tion, 368. 

Medina,  its  inhabitants  reproved  for  declining  the  expedition  of 
Tabuc,  186. 

Menat,  an  idol  of  the  Meccans,  404. 


INDEX.  535 

Merwa,  vide  Safa. 

Midian,  vide  Madian. 

Milk,  its  production  wonderful,  228. 

Mina,  the  valley  of,  75. 

Miracles  required  of  Mohammed,  445. 

Months,  sacred,  to  be  observed,  74,  119,  130. 

Moon  split  in  sunder,  407. 

Mohammed  promised  to  Adam,  60;  foretold  by  Christ,  425  ;  ex- 
pected by  Jews  and  Christians,  465  ;  his  journey  to  heaven, 
234  ;  sent  as  a  mercy  to  all  creatures,  269  ;  the  illiterate 
prophet,  160;  excuses  his  inability  to  work  miracles,  142,  212; 
accused  of  injustice  in  dividing  the  spoils,  98,  176 ;  flies  to 
Medina,  175;  foretells  the  battle  of  the  ditch,  380;  the  fear  of 
his  men  at  that  battle,  ib.;  his  generosity,  396;  makes  a  truce 
with  the  Koreish  for  ten  years,  ib. ;  expostulates  with  his  fol- 
lowers on  their  unwillingness  to  go  on  the  expedition  to 
Tabuc,  175;  reproves  the  hypocritical  Moslems,  109;  his  mercy 
to  the  disobedient,  98  ;  his  wives  demand  a  better  allowance, 
on  which  he  offers  them  a  divorce,  330  ;  they  choose  to  stay 
with  him,  and  he  lays  down  some  rules  for  their  behavior,  ib. ; 
his  privileges  in  that  and  some  other  respects,  332  ;  his  di- 
vorced wives  or  widows  not  to  marry  again,  332  ;  not  allowed 
to  pray  for  reprobate  idolaters,  181;  enjoined  to  admonish  his 
people,  404;  his  near  relation  to  the  believers,  328;  challenges 
his  opponents  to  produce  a  chapter  like  the  Koran,  59;  desires 
nothing  for  his  pains  in  preaching,  292  ;  acknowledges  him- 
self a  sinner,  392;  commanded  to  pray  by  night,  448;  prophe- 
sies the  defeat  of  the  Persians  by  the  Romans,  318  ;  repre- 
hends his  companions'  impatience,  314;  speaks  by  revelation, 
404  ;  his  dream  at  Bedr,  168  ;  his  dream  at  Medina,  396  ;  his 
doctrine  compared  with  that  of  the  other  prophets,  887 ;  is 
terrified  at  the  approach  of  Oabriel,  444;  is  reprehended  for 
his  neglect  of  a  poor  blind  man,  458. 

Mohammedans  believe  in  all  the  scriptures  and  prophets  without 
distinction,  68;  forbidden  to  hold  friendship  with  infidels,  95. 
125;  the  hypocritical  threatened,  182  ;  the  lukewarm  deceive 
their  own  souls,  393;  the  sincere,  their  reward,  811,  their  de- 
scription, 396. 

Moses,  his  story,  156,  256,  298;  his  miraculous  preservation  in  his 
infancy,  256;  kills  an  Egyptian,  and  flies  into  Midian,  80?  ;  is 
entertained  by  Shoaib,  80S  ;  sees  the  fire  in  the  bush,  800  ;  is 
sent  to  Pharaoh,  and  receives  the  power  of  working  niiracli-s. 
241;  his  transactions  in  Egypt,156,  190;  brings  water  from  ilu  I 
rock,  63;  treats  with  God,  and  receives  the  tables  of  the  law) 
from  him,  62  ;  breaks  the  tables,  and  is  wroth  with  Aaron  on 
account  of  the  golden  calf,  160;  threatens  the  people,  ib. ;  part 
of    his   law   rehearsed,  147  ;  his  and  Aaron's  relics  in  the 
ark,  80. 

Moslems,  vide  Mohammedans. 

Murder,  laws  concerning  it,  72,  111. 

Night,  part  of  it  to  be  spent  in  prayer,  443. 


536  INDEX. 

Nimrod  disputes  with  Abraham,  82. 

Noah,  his  story,  153,  194,  296  ;  his  prayer,  408  ;  his  wife's  infi- 
delity, 432. 

Oath,  an  inconsiderate  one,  how  to  be  expiated,  129;  an  extraordi- 
nary one,  460. 

Oaths,  cautions  concerning  them,  77;  not  to  be  violated,  231. 

Offerings  to  God  recommended,  272;  a  large  one  made  by  Moham- 
med, ib. 

Og,  fables  concerning  him,  122. 

Olive-trees  grow  at  Mount  Sinai,  277. 

Opprobrious  language  forbidden,  397. 

Orphans  not  to  be  injured,  103,  463;  a  curse  on  those  who  defraud 
them,  77;  to  be  instructed  in  religion,  103. 

Ostrich's  egg,  a  fine  woman's  skin  compared  to  it,  348. 

Ozair,  vide  Ezra. 

Parables,  82,  218,  228,  245. 

Paradise  described,  214,  391,  410;  its  fruits,  59;  the  portion  of  the 

distressed,  76. 

Pardon  will  be  granted  to  the  penitent,  171. 

Parents  to  be  honored,  236,  389;  make  their  children  infidels,  320. 
Patience  recommended,  103,  366. 

Patriarchs  before  Moses  neither  Jews  nor  Christians,  69. 
Pen  with  which  God's  decrees  are  written,  435. 
Penitent,  their  reward,  181. 
Pentateuch,  vide  Law. 
Persecutors,  their  sentence,  457. 
Pharaoh,  his  story,  156,  190,  306 ;  the  common  title  of  the  kings 

of  Egypt,  156;  a  punishment  used  by  him,  328  ;  his  presump- 
tion, 380. 

Pico  de  Adam,  vide  Serendib. 
Pilgrimage  to  Mecca  commanded,  74;  directions  concerning:  it,  74. 

93,  272. 

Pledges  to  be  given  where  no  contract  in  writing,  84. 
Poets  censured,  303. 
Pomp  of  this  life  of  no  value,  311. 
Polygamy,  vide  Marriage. 
Prayer  commanded  and  enforced,  60,  66;  directions  concerning  it, 

101,  112,  121;  not  to  be  entered  on  by' him  who  is  drunk,  107; 

before  reading  the  Koran,  318;  for  the  penitent,  361. 
Predestination,  97,  236. 
Pride,  abominable  in  the  sight  of  God,  236. 
Prodigality,  a  crime,  236. 
Prophets,  their  enemy  will  have  God   for  his,  65  ;   rejected  and 

persecuted  before  Mohammed,  135,  184.     Vide  Sinai. 
Prosperity  or  adversity  no  mark  of  God's  favor  or  disfavor,  460. 
Punishments  and  blessings  of  the  next  life,  152;  the  manner,  174 

Quails  given  the  Israelites,  62. 


INDEX.  537 

Quarrels  between  the  true  believers  to  be  composed,  397  ;  to  be 
avoided  on  the  pilgrimage,  74. 

Rai'na,  a  word  used  by  the  Jews  to  Mohammed  by  way  of  derision, 

Al  Rakim,  what,  342. 

Ramadan  (the  month)  appointed  for  a  fast,  73. 

Ransom  of  captives  disapproved,  170. 

Religion,  no  violence  to  be  used  in  it,  81;  what  is  the  right,  466; 
fighting  for  it  commanded  and  encouraged,  74,  97,  109,  166, 
172;  divided  into  various  sects,  279  ;  harmony  therein  recom- 
mended, 94. 

Repentance  necessary  to  salvation,  104  ;  a  death-bed  one  ineffect- 
ual, ib. 

Resurrection  asserted,  236,  399;  described,  281;  the  signs  of  its  ap- 
proach, 446;  its  time  known  to  God  alone,  326. 

Retaliation  (the  law  of),  71. 

Revenge  allowed,  274. 

Riches  will  not  gain  a  man  admission  into  paradise,  337;  employ  a 
man's  whole  life,  468. 

Righteous,  their  reward,  184. 

Righteousness,  wherein  it  consists,  71. 

Rites  appointed  in  every  religion,  275. 

Rock,  whence  Moses  produced  water,  62. 

Saba,  queen  of,  vide  Balkis. 

Saba,  the  wickedness  of  his  posterity,  and  their  punishment,  335. 

Sabbath,  the  transgression  thereof  punished,  161. 

Safa  and  Merwa,  mountains  of,  two  monuments  of  God,  70. 

Sa'iba,  130. 

Saleh,  the  prophet,  his  story,  154,  297,  etc.    Vide  Thamud. 

Salsabil,  a  fountain  in  paradise,  448. 

Salutation,  mutual,  recommended.  111. 

Sarah,  wife  of  Abraham,  her  laughing,  198. 

Satan,  his  punishment  for  seducing  our  first  parents,  148;  believed 

to  assist  the  Koreish,  168. 

Sects  and  their  leaders  shall  quarrel  at  the  resurrection,  71. 
Separation,  the  day  of,  a  name  of  the  day  of  judgment,  888. 
Seventy  Israelites  demand  to  see  God;  are  killed  by  lightning,  and 

restored  to  life  at  fhe  prayer  of  Moses,  61. 
Shoaib,  the  prophet,  his  story,  154,  199. 
Al  Sijil,  the  angel  who  takes  an  account  of  men's  actions,  269. 
Sinai,  Mount,  lifted  over  the  Israelites,  62,  65. 
Slaves,  how  to  be.  treated,  284  ;  women  not  to  be  compelled  to 

prostitute  themselves,  284. 
Slander  forbidden,  397;  the  punishment  of  those  who  slander  the 

prophets,  178,  468. 
Sleepers,  the  seven,  their  story,  242. 
Smoke,  which  will  precede  the  day  of  judgment,  882. 
Sodom  and  Gomorrah  destroyed,  198. 
Sodomy,  104. 


INDEX. 

Solomon  succeeds  David,  300;  has  power  over  the  winds,  267;  his 
and  David's  judgment,  267  ;  what  passed  between  him  and 
the  q«een  of  Saba,  301  ;  a  trick  of  the  devil's  to  blast  his 
character,  65;  cleared  by  the  mouth  of  Mohammed,  ib. ;  orders 
several  of  his  horses  to  be  killed,  because  they  had  diverted 
him  from  his  prayers,  354  ;  his  death  concealed  for  a  year, 
and  in  what  manner,  335. 

Soul,  the  origin  of  it,  240. 

Spoils,  laws  concerning  their  division,  168. 

Striking,  an  epithet  of  the  last  day,  467. 

Supererogation,  238. 

Sura,  or  chapter  of  the  Koran,  177. 

Sun  and  moon,  not  to  be  worshiped,  371;  are  subject  to  God  and 
the  use  of  man,  152. 

Swearer,  a  common,  not  to  be  obeyed,  435. 

Swine's  flesh.     Vide  Food. 

Table  caused  to  descend  from  heaven  by  Jesus,  132;  of  God's  de- 
crees, 136. 

Tables  of  the  law,  159. 

Talut,  vide  Saul. 

Tasnim,  a  fountain  in  paradise,  456. 

Temple  of  Mecca,  vide  Caaba;  of  Jerusalem,  built  by  genii.  335. 

Thainud,  the  tribe  of,  their  story  and  destruction,  154,  273,  370. 
Vide  Saleh. 

Theft,  its  punishment,  124. 

Throne  of  God,  81;  will  be  borne  by  eight  angels  on  the  day  of 
judgment,  437. 

Thunder  celebrates  the  praise  of  God,  212. 

Time  computed  by  the  sun  and  moon,  141. 

Tobba,  the  people  of,  destroyed,  383. 

Towa,  the  valley  where  Moses  saw  the  burning  bush,  452. 

Trinity,  the  belief  thereof  forbidden,  118,  128. 

True  believers,  who  are  such,  276. 

Trumpet  will  sound  at  the  last  day,  305,  361. 

Unbelievers  described,  338;  their  sentence,  70,  108,  359. 

Unity  of  God  asserted,  471. 

Unrighteousness  punished,  186. 

Usury  forbidden,  84,  321. 

Al  Uzza,  an  idol  of  the  Meccans,  405. 

Variety  of  languages  and  complexions  hard  to  be  accounted  for, 

319. 
Victory  of  the  Greeks  over  the  Persians  foretold  by  Mohammed, 

319. 
Visitation  of  the  Caaba,  74. 

War  against  infidels,  commanded  and  recommended,  110,  391. 

A\  'sisila,  130. 

Water  produced  from  the  rock  by  Moses,  62. 


INDEX.  539 

Weight  to  be  just,  155,  455. 

Whoredom,  laws  concerning  it,  104,  282. 

Wicked,  their  sentence,  189,  220,  450.     See  Unbelievers. 

Widows  to  be  provided  for,  79;  laws  relating  to  them,  79. 

Wife  ought  to  be  used  justly,  115;  may  be  chastised,  79;  the  num- 
ber of  wives  allowed  by  the  Koran,  102  ;  their  duty  to  their 
husbands,  78.  See  Adultery,  Divorce  and  Marriage. 

Winds,  their  use,  321;  subject  to  Solomon,  267,  354. 

Wine  forbidden,  76,  129. 

Wills,  laws  relating  to  them,  130. 

Witnesses,  laws  relating  to  them,  115,  130;  necessary  in  bargains, 
and  to  secure  debts,  84. 

Women  ought  to  be  respected,  102  ;  and  to  have  a  part  of  their 
relations'  inheritance,  103  ;  not  to  be  inherited  against  their 
will,  104  ;  to  be  subject  to  the  men,  106  ;  unclean  while  they 
have  their  courses,  76;  some  directions  for  their  conduct,  284, 
397;  the  punishment  of  those  who  falsely  accuse  them  of  in- 
continence, 282  ;  those  who  come  over  from  the  enemy,  how 
to  be  dealt  with,  424. 

Works  of  an  infidel,  will  appear  to  him  at  the  last  day,  135. 

Zacharias,  praying  for  a  son,  is  promised  John,  89,  250 ;  educate? 

the  Virgin  Mary,  89. 
Al  Zakkum,  the  tree  of  hell,  238,  349. 


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Nature,  Addresses  and  Lectures.  BY 
R.  W.  EMERSON. 

Nellie's  Memories.  BY  ROSA  N. 
CAREY. 

Nelson,  Admiral  Horatio,  Life  of.  BY 
ROBERT  SOUTHEY. 

Newcomes.  BY  WILLIAM  M.  THACK- 
ERAY. 

Nicholas  Nickleby.  BY  CHAS.  DICK- 
ENS. 

Ninety-Three.     BY  VICTOR  HUGO. 

Not  Like  Other  Girls.  BY  ROSA  N. 
CAREY. 

Odyssey.     POPE'S  TRANSLATION. 

Old  Curiosity  Shop.  BY  CHARLES 
DICKENS. 

Old  Mam'selle's  Secret.     BY  E.  MAR* 

LITT. 

Old     Mortality.     BY     SIR     WALTER 

SCOTT. 
Old    Myddleton's   Money.     BY    MARY 

CECIL  HAY. 

Oliver  Twist.     BY  CHAS.  DICKENS. 
Only    the    Governess.     BY    ROSA    N. 

CAREY. 
On     the     Heights.     BY     BERTHOLD 

AUERBACH. 

Oregon  Trail.  BY  FRANCIS  PARK- 
MAN. 

Origin  of  Species.  BY  CHARLES 
DARWIN. 

Other  Worlds  than  Ours.  BY  RICH- 
ARD PROCTOR. 

Our  Bessie.     BY  ROSA  N.  CAREY. 

Our  Mutual  Friend.  BY  CHARLES 
DICKENS. 

Outre-Mer.     BY  H.  W.  LONGFELLOW. 

Owl's  Nest.     BY  E.  MARLITT. 

Page  of  the  Duke  of  Savoy.  BY 
ALEXANDRE  DUMAS. 

Pair  of  Blue  Eyes.  BY  THOMAS 
HARDY. 

Pan    Michael.      BY    HENRYK    SIEN. 

KIEWICZ. 

Past   and   Present.     BY   THOS.    CAR- 

LYLE. 

Pathfinder.  BY  JAMES  FENIMORE 
COOPER. 

Paul  and  Virginia.  BY  Bc  DE  ST, 
PIERRE. 

Pendennis.  History  of.  BY  WM.  M 
THACKERAY. 

Penn,  William,  Life  of.  BY  W.  HEP- 
WORTH  DlXON. 

Pere  Goriot.     BY  HONORS  DE  BALZAC. 

Peter,  the  Great,  Life  of.  BY  JOHN 
BARROW. 

Peveril  of  the  Peak.  BY  SIR  WALTER 
SCOTT. 

Phantom  Rickshaw,  The.  BY  Run- 
YARD  KIPLING. 

Philip  II.  of  Spain,  Life  of.  BY  MAR- 
TIM  A.  S.  HUME. 

BY  X.  B.  SAINTINE. 


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